Alex Salmond denies attempted rape and sexual assault charges in court appearance

Alex Salmond has appeared in court accused of attempted rape and a number of sexual assaults while in office as Scotland’s First Minister.

At a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh today, the ex-SNP leader denied all of the 14 charges, relating to ten different women over a six-year-period.

The alleged incidents happened at various locations in Edinburgh, including the First minister’s official residence Bute House, as well as in Glasgow and Stirling.

Included within the charges is one allegation of attempted rape, one of sexual assault with intent to rape, ten sexual assaults and two indecent assaults.

The allegations span from the summer of 2008 to late 2014.

Speaking outside court, Mr Salmond insisted he was innocent and that he would defend himself ‘vigorously’.

He said: “The only proper place to answer criminal charges is in this court, and that is exactly what I intend to do next spring.”

Judge Lady Dorrian set the trial date as March 9 next year, and it is expected to last four weeks.

The charges faced:

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