Former SNP Council Leader Jordan Linden to Appeal Conviction
Jordan Linden, a former SNP council leader jailed for sexually assaulting five young men, is set to appeal both his conviction and sentence.
Last week, the 30-year-old was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment following a seven-day trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court. In addition to the sexual assault charges, Linden was found guilty of directing unwanted sexual communications towards seven teenagers, the youngest of whom was 14 years old.
Following the emergence of these allegations, Linden stepped down as leader of North Lanarkshire Council in 2022. Subsequently, he was placed on the sex offenders register after his conviction.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service has confirmed that an intention to appeal Linden's conviction and sentence has been formally lodged. Under Scottish law, an intimation of intention to appeal must be submitted within two weeks of sentencing, followed by a detailed note of the grounds for appeal within eight weeks.
Details of the Offences and Trial
The trial revealed that Linden's offences spanned a decade, occurring between 2011 and 2021. Linden, who also served as chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), denied all charges, asserting that the incidents either did not occur or were consensual.
Linden was first elected as an SNP councillor in 2017 and ascended to the leadership of North Lanarkshire Council in 2022. He resigned from this position a few weeks later after the allegations surfaced and was arrested in 2024.
Testimonies Presented at Trial
During the proceedings, an SNP party official testified that Linden had confined him in a bathroom and attempted to make him urinate while Linden observed. The official, who was 18 years old at the time, recounted that the incident occurred after a Dundee Pride parade when Linden was heavily intoxicated and behaving in a "very handsy" manner towards others.
Another witness described a "traumatic evening" in 2018 at Linden's flat in Bellshill, where they had been drinking. The man stated he "vomited in disgust" after waking to find Linden performing a sexual act on him.
