Salmond attends court in Glasgow

TRIAL: Former first minister denies all the charges that have been laid against him

Alex Salmond has made a further court appearance ahead of his trial next month over charges of attempted rape and sexual assault.

The hearing at the High Court in Glasgow follows appearances in Edinburgh in November and January, when he denied all 14 charges against him.

Salmond faces charges of offences against 10 women and is due to stand trial next month.

The former first minister is accused of attempting to rape a woman at Bute House in June 2014.

The charges alleges he pinned her against a wall, pulled at her clothes and stripped himself naked before trying to rape her on a bed.

The former first minister is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman with intent to rape in December 2013.

65-year-old Salmond is alleged to have forced a woman to lie on his bed at Bute House, lay on top of her, groped her, struggled with her and pulled up her dress with intent to rape her.

Overall, the charges span from June 29 2008 to November 11 2014 – two months after he stepped down as first minister and SNP leader.

He is accused of two indecent assaults and 10 sexual assaults, an attempted rape and a sexual assault with intent to rape.

The charges allege Salmond committed offences at locations in Glasgow, including the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant.

Other offences are said to have been committed in Edinburgh, including at the Scottish Parliament, Bute House and the Ego nightclub.

Salmond, of Strichen in Aberdeenshire, denies all the charges and his trial is scheduled to begin on March 9.

Picture: PA. Former First Minister Alex Salmond leaving the High Court in Glasgow yesterday ahead of his trial next month.