Jordan Linden was convicted of ten offences, including five sexual assaults, after a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court. His offences took place between 2011 and 2021. According to Police Scotland, Linden's victims were boys or young men, with the youngest aged 14.
After a seven-day trial, the jury at Falkirk Sheriff Court debated for less than four hours to reach the verdicts. Linden was convicted of causing fear and alarm and of directing unwanted sexual communications towards seven teenagers aged from 14, including pictures of himself in a bubble bath and more explicit shots of his genitalia. Four of the five sexual assault verdicts were unanimous. Linden was found not guilty, unanimously, of a sixth charge of sexual assault and was also acquitted, unanimously, of five other charges of stalking and sexual communication. Sheriff Christopher Shead deferred sentence to May 5 for reports and continued bail.
Linden resigned as leader of North Lanarkshire Council in July 2022 after reports of alleged sexual harassment emerged. He left the SNP in 2024.
Victims claimed their complaints to the SNP about Linden were brushed aside and nothing was done. Three victims of Linden have called for a full-scale probe into the Scottish Youth Parliament after it dismissed them as liars over a decade ago. Victims argued the Scottish Youth Parliament is not fit for purpose and still poses a risk to youngsters due to its wide age range (14 to 25).
One victim was sexually assaulted by Linden in September 2015 while sharing a hotel room booked by SYP chiefs. An alleged victim testified that Linden sexually assaulted him in 2018 at Linden's flat after drinking, and that he did not consent. A former SYP member testified at Linden's trial that Linden phoned him panting in the night and sent explicit images, and that complaints were not taken seriously. The witness claimed Linden was 'touchy feely' and would touch victims inappropriately during meetings.
The witness left the SYP in 2014 due to dissatisfaction with the lack of action against Linden's behavior. Victims raised concerns about Linden with SYP chief executive Ben McKendrick in 2016 but were not taken seriously. The SYP brought in a private law firm to investigate complaints in 2016, which found no evidence of crimes, and Linden used this to say he was 'cleared'.
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was personally told about sexual misconduct complaints against Linden in 2016, according to Amy Lee Fraioli. Councillors accused the SNP of putting Linden's victims 'through hell' by protecting him and ignoring complaints.
North Lanarkshire Council passed a motion calling for the SNP to lose a £10,000 pay boost due to its failure over the Linden scandal. Tracy Carragher and Fiona Fotheringham, who testified for Linden's defence, have faced calls to resign, with Carragher suspended from the SNP.
An SNP spokesperson said the party hopes the verdict brings justice to victims and praised their courage, but declined further comment due to ongoing proceedings. A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said the council's thoughts are with the victims and that its youth work service has safeguarding policies in place. The Scottish Youth Parliament described Linden's actions as 'reprehensible' and stated it fully supported the police investigation and prosecution.
An independent review commissioned by the SYP found its child protection policies fully complied with national guidelines and legislation.
First Minister John Swinney ordered an independent review of the SNP's procedures after Linden's verdict.
Linden, of Bellshill, had denied all the charges – saying they either did not take place, or were consensual.
It remains unclear what specific actions, if any, the SNP took in response to complaints about Linden before his conviction. The full scope and findings of the independent review ordered by First Minister John Swinney into the SNP's procedures have not been disclosed. Whether other individuals within the SNP or SYP will face consequences for allegedly ignoring or enabling Linden's behavior is also unknown.
The case has broader implications, with victims alleging systemic failures.