Judge Smith takes centre stage in King v Ashley case

Eccentric Judge Peter Smith again hogged the limelight in the latest courtroom appearance involving Mike Ashley and Sevco.

Ashley’s Sports Direct company applied for damages against Mr King before Christmas and the reinforcement of a gagging clause preventing the South African based criminal from discussing details of the Rangers Retail agreement.

Knowing that the case was being followed closely on social media Judge Smith stepped into the spotlight by announcing to the court that he wasn’t a freemason before going on to say that he would have been honoured if John Greig had introduced him to the secretive knuckle crunching group.

During the hearing on December 10 Judge Smith was told by Counsel for Mr King that Sevco had repaid a £5m loan from Sports Direct. The following day Counsel for Sports Direct confirmed to the court that the loan hadn’t been repaid.

Back on centre stage again today Judge Peter Smith, who has a reputation for taking cases to heart, decided to turn his anger of billionaire Sports Direct chief Ashley.

According to the report of courtroom expert James Doleman: “ Justice Smith then asked counsel if he was asking him to send Ashley to jail, remarking “you can have your fun with him at the trial,” where the Sports Direct owner is expected to give evidence.

“Smith then ordered the sections of Ashley’s witness statement that referred to the supposed financial losses to be struck out and asked counsel for Rangers to submit an estimate of their costs over that section of the legal action. McCormack replied that “while we would dearly like the money” this would take time to quantify.”

In April in Edinburgh Ashley will question the SFA on their reasoning behind granting Mr King fit and proper status to become a director despite over 40 criminal convictions in South Africa and being on the board of Rangers prior to liquidation.

CLICK HERE to read James Doleman’s full account of today’s action.