Ex-first minister intimidated, humiliated, degraded and created an offensive environment

BY ALAN McEWEN

ALEX Salmond was a “sexual predator” who “abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity”, his trial heard yesterday.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC told how the former first minister “intimidated, humiliated, degraded and created an offensive environment”.

Mr Prentice, who was delivering his closing speech to the jury, said the women who Salmond targeted “felt they couldn’t speak out and expose what had been taking place”.

Addressing the nine women and six men on the jury, he added: “Ladies and gentlemen, they had nobody to turn to for an effective remedy.

“Well, they do now. I invite you to convict Alex Salmond of the charges against him.”

Salmond, 65, faces 13 charges of alleged sexual offences against nine women. He denies all the charges.

Mr Prentice began his submission on the ninth day of the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The advocate depute told the court: “This case is not about a plot and political conspiracy.

“It is about a powerful man who abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity – that it’s hard to complain when you are reliant upon your abuser for opportunities and career development and when you are fully aware of an abuser’s reach and control.”

Mr Prentice added: “I suggest to you, ladies and gentlemen, the complainers in this case are courageous, brave women who spoke up to call out the abusive conduct of the former first minister.”

He said they had to “put up” with Salmond’s behaviour to “keep the employment they so dearly loved”.

The jurors were told much has been made during the trial of Salmond being a “tactile person”.

Mr Prentice said: “I’m not entirely sure what that means.

“On any view, it’s not a licence to grope women. Because this is the conduct described by the complainers. Not whether he kissed grandmothers or posed for selfies. “You decide on the nature of the conduct.” He added: “As you consider all these incidents described, not looking at the evidence in isolation, you will see this course of conduct of seeking sexual gratification.”

Mr Prentice told the jurors that “people who commit crimes of all sorts generally try to avoid” witnesses.

The prosecutor cited Salmond allegedly reaching out to touch the hair of Woman D in a lift and his hand being batted away by a male civil servant.

Mr Prentice said there was an “emerging pattern of brazen conduct”, adding: “He did it because he could.”

There was an “ongoing course of conduct” with a “common theme”, he