Former SNP council leader Jordan Linden has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of sexual offences against young men and teenagers, including victims as young as 14. The 30-year-old, once considered a rising star in the Scottish National Party, was convicted in March at Falkirk Sheriff Court of five sexual assaults and directing unwanted sexual communications to seven teenagers.
Details of the Crimes
Linden's offences spanned a decade, from 2011 to 2021. He admitted to sending inappropriate images, including photos of himself in a bath and explicit genital images, to minors. One incident involved sexually assaulting two victims at a house party in Dundee following a Pride march in 2019. The court also heard that during a trip to Barcelona with the SNP's youth wing, Young Scots for Independence, Linden climbed into a victim's bunk at a youth hostel, caressing him and attempting to kiss his neck.
Victims' Testimony
A witness testified that he reported Linden's behaviour to police in 2023 after feeling that complaints to the SNP were ignored or downplayed. "Everywhere I went for help in the SNP I was ignored or it was downplayed," he told the court. Another victim described the Scottish Youth Parliament, which Linden chaired, as "a hunting ground" for him, recounting an incident where Linden touched and tickled him in front of other youth workers, who dismissed it as "just Jordan."
Political Reactions
John Swinney, SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, expressed hope that the sentence would provide victims with assurance that Linden had been held accountable. He noted that the SNP had strengthened its complaints handling but called for independent scrutiny to ensure robustness. Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, condemned the case as exposing "the rotten culture at the heart of the SNP," accusing the party of prioritizing itself over victims.
Investigation and Aftermath
Detective Chief Inspector Diane Barr, the senior investigating officer, praised the victims for coming forward, stating that Linden had abused his position of trust to befriend young males seeking support. Linden has been placed on the sex offender register. Victims have called for an investigation by the charities regulator into the Scottish Youth Parliament.
