Former SNP Council Leader Denies Sending Sexual Images
A former SNP council leader has denied sending sexual images and making sexual advances towards five men during his tenure as a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Jordan Linden, who resigned as leader of North Lanarkshire Council in 2022, is currently on trial facing multiple charges, including sexual assault, sexual communication, and stalking. He denies all allegations.
Linden stated that the images he sent while in bed or in the bath were not intended to be sexual but were sent because he was "being silly."
Evidence Focuses on Scottish Youth Parliament Period
The morning session of the trial concentrated on Linden's time as an elected member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, a position he held from 2011 until early 2016.
Now aged 30, Linden became visibly emotional when he admitted to the court that he had sent one consensual sexual image to another individual. However, he claimed that this image was subsequently forwarded to multiple others without his permission.
"I felt betrayed and unfairly treated," Linden said.
He added the initial interaction had been "two way" and "consensual."
When questioned by his defence lawyer about sending photographs while in the bath or bed, Linden confirmed he had done so.
"Because I was silly," he explained when asked why he sent the images.
Linden also told the court that the images were "not as described" by some of the complainants.
He said the pictures were always either from the chest up or knee down, and "always sent to multiple recipients."
The former council leader stated he never received any objections to the images because "they [the recipients] were engaging in similar activity."
Denial of Inappropriate Contact and Advances
Regarding allegations of inappropriate contact and sexual advances, Linden denied the claims.
He described himself as "a hugger," stating that he would hug and kiss the cheeks of many youth parliament colleagues but was never informed of any objections.
"I'm not always best at picking up on visual cues," Linden admitted when asked if he might have been blind to such signals.
"I take people at face value," he added.
Testimony from Complainant on Missed Calls
Earlier in the proceedings, the court heard from a complainant who stated he received approximately 20 missed calls from Linden "a few nights a week for a few weeks" in 2021 before blocking him.
At that time, the complainant was a teenager, and Linden was serving as leader of North Lanarkshire Council.
