A civil servant has claimed Alex Salmond apologised to her following an alleged sexual assault at Bute House.
The woman, who has been identified as Woman F, has accused the then first minister of ordering her to “get on the bed” within his private bedroom before lying on top of her and pulling up her dress in December 2013.
The civil servant was giving evidence today at the High Court in Edinburgh about two charges of sexual assault involving Salmond – incidents he says were consensual, while maintaining his innocence.
The woman, who is the fourth to give evidence in the trial, said she and the first minister moved to his private bedroom to do paperwork during the evening due to the drawing room being “very cold”.
She said Salmond began drinking a Chinese spirit he had received following an official visit to the country, while also encouraging her to drink.
Woman F said that when she got up to leave the room to return home the 65-year-old told her to “get on the bed”.
Advocate depute Alex Prentice asked: “What was your reaction to that?”
The woman replied: “I felt quite panicked. This happened in an environment and culture of doing whatever the first minister asks you.
“I was trying to balance that with arriving panic.”
The woman described “sloppy and haphazard” kisses from Salmond on the bed while he also put his hands on her “breasts” and “bottom” and murmured “you are irresistible”.
Mr Prentice asked why she did not report the incident at the time to security in the building.
She replied: “It didn’t seem to fit within the parameters of my role. Part of my job was to protect the first minister and his reputation. The idea of reporting it was completely alien.”
The witness told the court that she reported the incident to fellow civil service colleagues the same week, with a meeting soon convened involving members of Salmond’s staff.
The woman said that following the talks it was agreed the first minister would apologise to her at a meeting at the Scottish Parliament.
She said: “The first minister said he was sorry for what happened and that it was unacceptable.
“He said he had been drinking more than usual, not just that night, due to stress. He said he respected me and wanted us to keep working together.”
Mr Prentice asked: “What was your response?”
Woman F replied: “I accepted his apology.”
During cross-examination, defence advocate Gordon Jackson asked whether the alleged incident had in fact been a “sleepy cuddle” between Salmond and Woman F with the pair lying side by side on the bed.
Woman F replied: “I refute any suggestion that I cuddled the first minister.”
Mr Jackson also asked whether she had also apologised to Salmond during the meeting at the Scottish Parliament.
Woman F replied: “No. I didn’t have anything to apologise for.”
The trial continues.
