Alex Salmond carried out a series of sex attacks – including an attempted rape in his official residence – while serving as Scotland’s First Minister, according to prosecutors.
The former SNP leader appeared in court this morning facing 14 charges ranging from indecent assault to attempted rape.
The 64-year-old of Strichen, Aberdeenshire, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh before Judge Lady Dorian.
The charges involve ten women over a six-and-a-half-year period from June 2008.
According to the attempted rape charge, Salmond blocked his alleged victim’s path, pinned her against a wall, pushed her on to a bed and lay naked upon her.
In addition to the alleged attempted rape at Bute House in Edinburgh in June 2014, Salmond is also accused of assaulting a woman with the intent to rape her in the luxury taxpayer-funded Charlotte Square residence in December 2013.
A further nine charges relate to allegations of sexual assault against women at Bute House, Stirling Castle, in a car in Edinburgh and nightspots in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Two others allegations are of indecent assault, one in Glasgow and the other in Bute House.
I am innocent and I will defend my position vigorously… — Alex Salmond outside court
Salmond is said to have assaulted one of the women by removing her shoe and attempting to kiss her foot and others by placing his hands over their clothed bodies, making sexual remarks and attempting to kiss them.
One sexual assault charge states he placed his hands under the woman’s underwear and four that he kissed the women.
Salmond’s defence said he was pleading not guilty but no formal plea was made by the accused.
A trial, which is estimated to last four weeks, has been scheduled for March 9. A further preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 22.
Outside court, Salmond told waiting media: “I am innocent and I will defend my position vigorously.
“But the only place, the proper place, to answer criminal charges is in this court and that is exactly what we intend to do next spring.”
Salmond was elected Scotland’s First Minister in May 2007 and stepped down in November 2014 in the wake of defeat in the independence referendum.
The charges faced by Salmond
1) That on various occasions between June 2008 and July 2008 in Glasgow, he did indecently assault woman A, kiss her on the mouth and touch her buttocks and breast with his hands over her clothing;
2) On an occasion in December 2010 or December 2011 at a club in Edinburgh, he did sexually assault woman A, touch her arms and hips with his hand over her clothing;
3) On an occasion between October and November 2010 both dates inclusive, at Bute House, 6 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, he did indecently assault woman B, repeatedly seize her by her wrists and repeatedly pull her towards him and attempt to kiss her;
4) On a date in February 2011 in a motor vehicle travelling in Edinburgh, he did sexually assault woman C, touch her leg with his hand over her clothing;
5) On various occasions between May 2011 and June 2013, at Bute House, The Scottish Parliament and elsewhere, he did sexually assault woman D, touch her buttocks with his hands over her clothing, stroke her arms, and touch and stroke her hair;
6) On a date in October 2013 at Bute House, he did sexually assault woman E, remove her foot from her shoe, stroke her foot, lift her foot towards his mouth and attempt to kiss her foot;
7) On an occasion between November 2013 and December 2013, at Bute House, he did sexually assault woman F, kiss her on the mouth;
8) On a date in December 2013 at Bute House, he did sexually assault woman F, cause her to sit on a bed, lie on top of her, make sexual remarks to her, touch her buttocks, thighs and breasts over her clothing with his hands, repeatedly kiss her face, struggle with her, pull up her dress with intent to rape her;
9) On a date in March 2012 at a restaurant in Glasgow, he did sexually assault woman G, place his arm around her, make sexual remarks to her and attempt to kiss her;
10) On a date in April 2014 at Bute House, he did sexually assault woman G, place his arm around her, make sexual remarks to her and attempt to kiss her;
11) On an occasion in May 2014, at Bute House, he did sexually assault woman H, place his arm around her body, place his hand under her clothing and underwear and touch her breast, repeatedly kiss her on the face and neck and stroke her leg with his hand;
12) On a date in June 2014 at Bute House, he did sexually assault woman H, lift her legs and place them over his legs, repeatedly kiss her on the face and neck, place his hand inside her upper clothing and touch her breast over her underwear, repeatedly block her path, pin her against a wall, pull at her clothing, touch her breasts and body with his hands, remove her clothing and underwear, remove his clothing and underwear, push her on to a bed, kneel over her, pin her to the bed by her shoulder, lie naked on top of her, cause his erect penis to touch her body and attempt to rape her;
13) On a date in September 2014 at Bute House, he did sexually assault woman I, seize her by the shoulders, repeatedly kiss her on the face, attempt to kiss her on the lips, touch her leg and face with his hand;
14) On a date in November 2014 at Stirling Castle, did sexually assault woman J , touch her buttock with his hand over her clothing.
