Alex Salmond denies attempting to rape woman in court appearance

Former Scottish first minister faces 14 charges against 10 women spanning six years

Chiara Giordano
Thursday 21 November 2019 13:00 GMT
Alex Salmond gives statement after pleading not guilty to attempted rape

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has pleaded not guilty to attempting to rape a woman during the independence referendum campaign.

The 64-year-old allegedly attacked the woman at Bute House – the official residence of the first minister of Scotland – in Edinburgh in June 2014.

Mr Salmond appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday to face 14 allegations of offences against 10 women spanning six years.

They include one charge of attempted rape, 11 of sexual assault – including one with intent to rape – and two of indecent assault.

The charges cover a period between 29 June 2008 and 11 November 2014, with one sexual assault said to have taken place in the month of the historic referendum.

An indictment alleges that during the attempted rape, he placed the woman's legs over his, repeatedly kissed her face and neck, groped her, then blocked her path.

Mr Salmond is then alleged to have pinned her against a wall, pulled at her clothes and stripped himself naked before trying to rape her on a bed.

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

He is alleged to have forced a woman to lie on his bed at the first minister’s official residence then pulled up her dress with intent to rape her.

Bute House, the official residence of Scotland's first minister in Edinburgh (AFP/Getty)

Both incidents were said to have taken place between the date of the Edinburgh Agreement in 2012 and the day of the independence vote in September 2014.

Meanwhile, the first of the charges involved incidents where Mr Salmond allegedly indecently assaulted a woman by kissing her mouth and groping her on various occasions around Glasgow between 29 June 2008 and 24 July 2008.

It is also alleged he sexually assaulted a woman on various occasions between May 2011 and June 2013 at the Scottish Parliament, Bute House and elsewhere by touching her bottom and stroking other parts of her body.

Mr Salmond – who was Scotland’s first minister from 2007 to 2014 – is also accused of taking off a woman’s shoe and trying to kiss her foot in October 2013.

Alex Salmond speaking to the media as he leaves the High Court (PA)

The indictment states that in September 2014, Mr Salmond grabbed a woman by her shoulders at Bute House, repeatedly kissed her face, tried to kiss her lips and touched her leg and face.

Several charges involved the accused allegedly groping women, including one incident at the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant in Glasgow in March 2012.

Gordon Jackson QC, representing Mr Salmond, said his client denied the allegations.

Judge Lady Dorrian set the preliminary hearing for 22 January and set a trial date for 9 March, which is expected to last four weeks.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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