Prosecutor: Sexual predator Salmond humiliated women

ALEX SALMOND “abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity,” prosecutors have said, as they summed up their case against the former first minister of Scotland.

Alex Prentice, QC, told the nine women and six men of the jury that Mr Salmond was a “sexual predator” who created an “intimidating, humiliating and degrading” environment for his female staff by acting in a “brazen” manner “because he could”.

He rejected Mr Salmond’s claim that the case against him was the result of a “political conspiracy” and said the nine complainers were all “courageous women”.

Mr Salmond, who arrived at Edinburgh High Court this morning alongside his wife, Moira, is accused of 13 charges of sexual assault – including an attempted rape – over a period of six years during his time in office. He denies all the charges.

Closing his case into the former first minister on the ninth day of his trial, Mr Prentice said: “This case is not about plot or political conspiracy. It is about a powerful man who abused his power to satisfy his sexual desires with impunity.

“I suggest that Alex Salmond’s conduct over the span of the charges was intimidating, humiliating, degrading and created an offensive environment. I suggest that the complainants are courageous, brave women who spoke up to call out the abuse of conduct of the former first minister. There is an emerging pattern here – brazen conduct. He did it because he could. There is a common theme – that of a sexual predator with escalating gravity.”

The closing statement from Mr Salmond’s defence is expected today.