Eilidh’s horror at photo with shamed MSP

Top Scots athlete Eilidh Child has revealed her horror at being photographed with wife beating MSP Bill Walker.

The 26-year-old track and field star said she was not aware of the shamed politician’s background when she posed for the photo at an awards ceremony.

“I didn’t actually realise. It’s not great. He was obviously trying to look good, with his trial going on and everything,” she said.

The news comes as it emerged a Bill being pushed through Westminster to drop the minimum tariff for axing criminal politicians below 12 months could force the MSP out.

Walker was found guilty last week of battering three former wives and a stepdaughter over a 28-year period but is refusing to stand down despite growing public outrage.

In other developments in the 71-year-old’s case

Walker’s current wife vowed to stand by him and said there will be an appeal.

The Crown didn’t pursue allegations that Walker raped one of his ex-wives, due to insufficient evidence.

Walker will bank nearly £200,000 in wages and pay-offs if he stays as an MSP until 2016.

The former SNP member’s West Fife £345,000 house has been put up for sale.

Walker is set to be sent on specialist programme to get wife beaters to change their behaviour.

Walker has not spoken publicly since being convicted on 23 counts of domestic abuse on Thursday.

But his current wife, June, 67, was yesterday reported as saying: “There will be an appeal and the sentence hasn’t been given. He’s not able to speak at the moment.

“Everybody is against us. It’s been a vendetta against him by everyone the press, everyone.”

Giving evidence during Walker’s trial, the MSP’s second wife, Anne Gruber, claimed her ex-husband had raped her when they were together.

The Sunday Post understands this claim was investigated by the police and handed to the Crown Office but prosecutors felt there wasn’t “sufficient admissible evidence” to secure a conviction.

It is also understood one of the challenges facing prosecutors was that the alleged attack took place in the US.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “The accused has never appeared in court charged with rape in relation to this case.”

Walker will be sentenced next month where he will get a maximum of 12 months in jail a tariff which falls short of automatic disqualification as an MSP. The Sheriff instructed background reports on the suitability of the Caledonian Men’s Programme before she passes sentence.

This six-month programme involves weekly group meetings where convicted abusers are encouraged to take “responsibility for their behaviour and attitudes” and understand why they have been abusive .

Meanwhile, a proposal by Labour’s Dunfermline and West Fife Thomas Docherty could see the law changed to get Walker axed as an MSP.

Mr Docherty is piloting a Bill which would see the disqualification period of 12 months shortened.

The Labour MP, whose plan would be to apply any law change retrospectively to anyone elected in the current term, said: “The set-up is archaic and is in urgent need of change. The Bill Walker situation surely makes this plain to see for everyone.”

If Walker stays on as an MSP he will continue to bank a £57,000 a year salary and will be entitled to a £7,000 a year pension if he stands down at the next election.

The Dunfermline MSP will also collect a £29,000 resettlement grant to help him “adjust” to not being a politician any more.

If Walker is jailed next month, taxpayers’ money will also be used to ferry documents to and from prison to allow him to carry out his constituency work.