Former first minister Alex Salmond has appeared in court accused of attempted rape and a string of sexual assaults.
The former SNP MP is accused of 14 charges relating to 10 different women over a six-year period.
He denied the allegations when he appeared for a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh today.
The alleged incidents happened at various locations in Edinburgh, including the first minister’s official residence Bute House, and in Glasgow, Stirling and elsewhere.
The Crown allege the 64-year-old attempted to rape one woman by pinning her to a wall and blocking her path before removing her clothing, pushing her onto a bed and lying naked on top of her in mid 2014.
A month before, it is alleged Salmond put his hand under the same woman’s bra, repeatedly kissed her on the face and neck and stroked her leg.
In an alleged incident the year before, in late 2013, Salmond made a different woman sit down on a bed and lay on top of her, making sexual remarks and touching her. He allegedly repeatedly kissed her, struggled with her and pulled up her dress. The Crown allege this was done with intent to rape.
In a separate incident that same year, Salmond allegedly removed a different woman’s shoe, stroked her foot and lifted it towards his mouth and attempted to kiss it.
The former SNP leader is also accused of a string of other sexual and indecent assaults, involving touching women on top and under their clothing, kissing them, stroking their hair and face and making sexual remarks.
The allegations span from the summer of 2008 to late 2014.
The trial is due to take place on March 9 next year.
