“A former SNP council leader has been found guilty of five sexual assaults of young men.”

“Jordan Linden, who stood down as leader of North Lanarkshire Council in 2022 after the allegations emerged, was convicted of a series of sexual offences.”

“He had initially faced a total of 15 charges at Falkirk Sheriff Court, including sexual assault, sexual communication and stalking.”

“Linden who also chaired the Scottish Youth Parliament, had denied all the charges against him.”

“Sentence was deferred until May and he was placed on the sex offenders register before being released on bail.”

“The 30-year-old was also convicted of directing unwanted sexual communications towards seven teenagers, the youngest aged 14.”

“The offences took place over a 10-year period from 2011 until 2021.”

“After a seven-day trial, the jury debated for less than four hours to reach the verdicts.”

“One witness told the trial that during a trip to Barcelona with Young Scots for Independence - the youth wing of the SNP - Linden had climbed into his bed at a youth hostel and started caressing him and trying to kiss him.”

“Linden, from Bellshill, later told the court that he had only given the man a cuddle before going back to his own bed.”

“Several witnesses also said their complaints about him were downplayed or ignored by adults in Youth Parliament and the SNP.”

“Linden had denied all the charges – saying they either did not take place, or were consensual.”

“Jordan Linden was found not guilty of six charges involving stalking and sexual assault.”

“The Scottish Youth Parliament commissioned an investigation into the circulation of explicit images of Jordan Linden among its members.”

“He resigned from the post a few weeks later when the allegations emerged. He was arrested in 2024.”

“A man, now 29, recalled a 'traumatic evening' in August 2018 – a year after Linden became an SNP councillor.”

“Another incident was reported to have taken place in 2019, following a Dundee Pride parade with Out For Independence - the LGBT wing of the SNP.”

“One man, who joined the SYP at the same time as Linden when they were both 15, said Linden's touching, on the face or the cheek or the neck, was 'relentless'.”

“Linden became chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament in 2015 and stepped down in 2016 following the circulation of explicit images of himself among members.”

“He said Linden phoned him in the middle of the night 'panting', sent him photographs of his genitalia, touched his bottom and tried to pull his trousers down.”

“Jordan Linden denied circulating explicit images of himself among Scottish Youth Parliament members.”

“The court heard from an SNP party official who said Linden had locked him in a bathroom and tried to get him to urinate while he watched.”

“Linden became a councillor for the SNP the following year, and rose to become North Lanarkshire council leader in 2022.”

“In court, he claimed his actions were due to being 'young, naive, and silly' and not criminal.”

“Jordan Linden's sentence was deferred until May 5 for further reports.”