Ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden jailed for sex offences against young men and boys

A former SNP council leader who preyed on young men and boys has been jailed for 18 months.

Jordan Linden, 30, was convicted of 10 offences - including five sexual assaults, stalking and sexual communication - following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court in March.

Linden returned to the dock for sentencing on Wednesday and was jeered by a crowd as he arrived to court.

He was initially scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, but proceedings were postponed due to defence lawyer David Moggach KC being unavailable.

While going to and from court, Sky News' Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies repeatedly asked the convicted sex offender if he wished to apologise to his victims.

Linden replied: "I don't have any comment to make at this time."

The offences took place over a 10-year period between 2011 and 2021.

Police Scotland said all of the victims were either boys or young men, with the youngest aged just 14.

The force said Linden, who also chaired the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) between 2015 and 2016, sexually assaulted two victims at a house party following a Dundee Pride parade in 2019.

He was eventually charged in February 2024 but denied any wrongdoing.

In total, Linden was convicted of five sexual assaults; three counts of stalking; one count of coercing a person to look at a sexualised image and communicating indecently; and one count of intentionally causing another person to look at a sexual image without consent.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Mr Moggach said his client had faced difficulties in his teenage years due to bullying and suffered "social isolation".

That was said to have changed when he joined the SYP.

Mr Moggach said Linden had been diagnosed with autism in 2021, adding: "It highlighted his lack of awareness of social boundaries and may go some way to explain the behaviour.

"Subsequent to 2021 there has been no offending. There is an awareness on Mr Linden's part of how his behaviour was simply unacceptable.

"He now appreciates that he overstepped certain boundaries and now knows where those boundaries are. This has been a hugely significant and sobering experience for him."

Mr Moggach urged Sheriff Christopher Shead to impose a non-custodial sentence.

However, the sheriff said: "I've reflected on the submissions of Mr Moggach and reached the conclusion that the nature of the offences is such that the test has been met and that custody is the only appropriate disposal."

As well as the 18-month jail term, Linden was additionally placed on the sex offenders' register.

Linden stepped down as North Lanarkshire Council leader in July 2022, which at the time led to the collapse of the SNP administration.

He later quit the council and the party in March 2023.

During his trial, some witnesses testified their complaints were downplayed or ignored by adults in the SYP and SNP.

Following the sentencing, the SYP said it "recognises the seriousness of this case and the concern it has caused".

A spokesperson for the board added: "SYP twice commissioned external investigations into how we handled allegations made against Linden in 2016, which established there was no evidence of criminality based on the information we had at that time, and that we had properly followed procedures and guidelines in place.

"In November 2017, we also referred fresh allegations to Police Scotland, which is responsible for investigating potential criminality, and it later confirmed that no criminality had been established and its inquiry concluded.

"After further allegations emerged in 2022, the SYP fully supported Police Scotland and the Crown Office investigation which subsequently led to Linden's conviction.

"Throughout this period, SYP referred concerns to the appropriate authorities and cooperated fully with external investigations."

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The SNP said it had undertaken a "comprehensive review" of its complaints procedures since 2016. However, in light of the case, party leader John Swinney has since instructed for an independent review of them.

A spokesperson for the party said: "The SNP welcomes the verdict against Jordan Linden and commends the bravery of the individuals who came forward and shared their experiences with the police.

"We hope that today's sentencing will provide some measure of justice for the victims of Mr Linden's actions."

Days after Linden's conviction, Tracy Carragher, the leader of the SNP group on North Lanarkshire Council, was suspended by the party and dropped as a Holyrood election candidate pending an investigation.

The move came amid criticism of her handling of complaints made against Linden prior to his arrest.

Ms Carragher, who was called as a defence witness during the trial, said she would "fully co-operate" with the probe.

She added: "I understand the importance of ensuring that concerns are examined properly and I am confident that due process will allow the facts to be established."

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