SNP predator Jordan Linden has been jailed for 18 months for a string of sex crimes against eight young men and boys.
The former North Lanarkshire Council leader was sentenced today by Sheriff Christopher Shead at Falkirk Sheriff Court.
In March the 30-year-old from Bellshill was found guilty of 10 charges, including five sexual assaults, indecent communication and stalking, over a decade between 2011 and 2021.
The former rising star of the nationalist party blew a kiss to his mother as he was led from the dock into custody, flanked by guards.
His parents then berated a victim’s mother outside the court room, asking how the woman could ‘sleep at night’.
As Linden entered court building in the morning, an angry group of onlookers shouted ‘beast’ at him.
His lawyer David Moggach KC pleaded with the sheriff to consider alternatives to custody pointing out his offending happened when he was much younger.
Mr Moggach said: ‘In 2021 he was diagnosed with autism and it highlighted his lack of awareness of social boundaries and may go some way to explain the behaviour.
SNP predator Jordan Linden arriving at court shortly before he was sentenced to jail for 18 months for a string of sex crimes against eight young men and boys
‘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 added Linden was a teenager himself at the time of some of the earlier offences.
Sentencing Linden, Sheriff Shead said he had considered the lawyer’s submissions but added: ‘The first question the court requires to address is if a custodial sentence is the only disposal.
‘It’s necessary for the court to consider the number of offences of which Mr Linden was convicted which includes sexual assault and to balance those against factors favourable to Mr Linden advanced by Mr Moggach including that Mr Linden has no previous convictions.
‘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.’
Former SNP council chief Linden was once a rising star in the party
He imposed an 18-month term for the most serious of Linden’s crimes, where he sexually assaulted a man who considered him a friend while he was asleep at his flat.
Linden received a concurrent 12-month sentence for sexually assaulting a young SNP activist during a Pride party in Dundee in 2019, and nine-month concurrent sentences for the other eight charges he was found guilty of.
He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
The sentencing had been due to take place the day before but was delayed because his counsel had been unavailable because of a trial which had ‘spilled’ over from Friday.
During the earlier proceedings, the court heard one of Linden’s victims was just 17 while he also sexually harassed a 14-year-old boy.
Jurors heard that the once a rising star in the SNP had stroked and touched his victims inappropriately and sent partially naked and sometimes explicit selfies to them.
Witnesses also spoke of him getting into beds or bunks with them and trying to pull at their belts and waistbands.
One of the sex attacks took place while he was the chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP).
Jordan Linden pictured with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during the period when he was seen as a rising star within the SNP
However, during his trial Linden denied all charges, saying they either hadn’t taken place or were consensual.
Following the conviction, First Minister John Swinney ordered an independent review of the SNP’s processes in the wake of concerns about the handling of complaints against Linden.
The SNP’s political opponents have criticised the way the party handled the allegations of Linden’s misconduct, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accusing them of ‘double standards’.
After the sentencing yesterday, one of Linden’s victims said: ‘Finally we’ve got some justice for what happened. This should have happened almost a decade ago, but those of us who spoke up weren’t believed. Jordan was able to go and commit more crimes against other young men because those in charge dismissed his behaviour.’
Jim Logue, Labour leader of North Lanarkshire council, said: ‘It is important to recognise the incredible strength shown by the victims at court who had to publicly recount their harrowing experiences at the hands of Jordan Linden.
‘These men have had to endure the suffering over a number of years and will continue to do so.
‘If people in Linden’s party were aware of his conduct, yet chose not to investigate further, or prevent his climb to a high political office, they should be held accountable.
‘It is also significant to note that Jordan Linden was on the payroll of a number of SNP Parliamentarians and worked in their parliamentary offices’
Many of Linden’s crimes took place while he was a member, then chairman, of the SYP.
Four of the eight victims were SYP members when they were attacked by the predator. Despite previously raising the alarm about Linden, their complaints were dismissed and he left the organisation in 2016 before an investigation into him concluded.
A spokesman for the SYP said the organisation ‘recognises the seriousness of this case and the concern it has caused’ and ‘our thoughts remain with those who were harmed by Linden’s actions’.
But he said two external probes into how the original complaints were handled had found the organisation had ‘properly followed procedures and guidelines in place’.
The spokesman added: ‘After further allegations emerged in 2022, the SYP fully supported Police Scotland and the Crown Office investigation which subsequently led to Linden’s conviction.
‘Our safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures have been reviewed and strengthened on a regular basis.’