Nervous Hibs star faces Jambo sheriff over fraud claims

The Hibs forward had been ordered to appear in person at Haddington Sheriff Court today to answer alleged insurance fraud allegations over a crash involving his £100,000 Ferrari.

O’Connor, 28, who looked nervous as he sat in the dock, and only spoke to confirm his name, was successful in his motion to have the case postponed.

But the striker, who has also played for Lokomotiv Moscow, Birmingham and Barnsley, looked shocked when Sheriff Colin McCrory admitted he was a Hearts shareholder and also held a season ticket at Tynecastle.

Solicitor Alex Lafferty told the court: “I appear on behalf of Mr O’Connor, instructed by his solicitors in Glasgow, and he maintains his plea of not guilty.

“Apparently there has been some discussion between the procurator fiscal and his principal agent, the result of which there is a motion to postpone the trial diet at the end of this month to fix new dates between May 2 and May 28.

“That is for further discussion and possible resolution to the matter.”

At this point, Sheriff McCrory said: “For the record, I should declare that I’m a season ticket holder at Tynecastle. Is there any objection to me dealing with this matter?

“I just thought it appropriate that I should disclose this. I also have some Hearts shares, which I think are probably worth less than Rangers shares at the minute.”

The sheriff agreed to change the trial date from March 29 to May 24.

O’Connor, who lives in a £1m home in the exclusive Archerfield estate, near Dirleton, East Lothian, is alleged to have told an Aviva Insurance rep that he was driving his prized F430 Spider F1 in Gullane, East Lothian, on April 30, when extensive damage to the car occurred.

But the Hibernian striker has been accused of trying to swindle £93,500 from the insurance company after it was alleged a friend of his, Darren Brock, caused the damage following a collision with a railway bridge two weeks earlier.

The wrecked red supercar, which has since been written off, was discovered abandoned following an early morning smash near Tranent, East Lothian on April 14.