Salmond accused of sex crimes against 10 women
Alex Salmond has been accused of pinning a woman to a bed by her shoulder and trying to rape her in his official residence when he was first minister.
The alleged incident is among 14 charges levelled against the former leader of the Scottish National Party.
They include one attempted rape, one intent to rape, 10 sexual assaults and two indecent assaults.
Salmond appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday charged with carrying out sexual offences against 10 women while first minister. He denies the allegations and said that he would defend himself ‘‘vigorously’’ in court, when the trial begins in March.
Gordon Jackson, QC, pleaded not guilty on his behalf in front of Lady Dorrian, the lord justice clerk, Scotland’s second most senior judge. Salmond, in a dark grey suit with a Saltire pin badge on the lapel, a blue shirt and a navy tie emblazoned with Saltires, did not speak at the hearing.
The most serious charge claims that he repeatedly blocked an employee’s path, pinned her against a wall, repeatedly kissed her on the face and neck, lifted her legs to place them over his legs and touched her breasts and body. He is then said to have removed both her clothing and his before pushing her on to a bed in Bute House – then his official residence – as he tried to rape her on June 13, 2014.
The same woman also alleges that Salmond, who led the SNP for 20 years, sexually assaulted her in May 2014 by placing his hand under her clothes to touch a breast, kissing her on the face and neck and stroking her leg with his hand, also at the official residence in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.
All of the incidents are alleged to have taken place between June 2008 and November 2014, when Salmond was first minister.
Nine are said to have occurred at Bute House.
Outside court Salmond was flanked by Gail Hendry, his sister, and other supporters, as he addressed the press.
He said: ‘‘I am innocent and I will defend my position vigorously but the only place, the only proper place, to answer criminal charges is in this court, and that is what we intend to do.
‘‘As you’ll understand, I am not permitted to say too much save that we have lodged our defence statement with the court. It pleads not guilty to all charges and explains some of the circumstances in which they have come about.
‘‘I am conscious we are in the middle of a general election. I’m not going to say anything that would influence that democratic process.’’
Nicola Sturgeon, who succeeded Salmond, said: ‘‘The only thing that I would say as first minister and as an ordinary citizen is that my only interest is in seeing justice done, whatever it may be.’’
The trial has been set for March 9 and is due to last four weeks, with another preliminary hearing on January 2.
The Scottish government admitted this year that it acted unlawfully in inquiries into claims against Salmond. He won proceedings against the government, which breached its guidelines by appointing an investigating officer who had ‘‘prior involvement’’ in the case.