Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party between August 2010 and October 2022
Murrell pleaded guilty during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh and was remanded in custody
He was arrested in 2023 as part of Operation Branchform, a police investigation into the funding and finance of the SNP
Police Scotland said Murrell had "abused his privileged position" to bankroll a "lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford"
He was accused of illicitly purchasing items including luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome
Murrell is the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon
Paul O'Hare
BBC Scotland reporter at the High Court in Edinburgh
Before the hearing got under way the judge, Lord Young, approved a legal bid by BBC Scotland to obtain a full list of the items embezzled by Murrell.
The documents, which were released this morning, run to about 130 pages.
Our reporters are poring over them and we will bring you more details as we have them.
Police Scotland launched an investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances in July 2021.
On 5 April 2023 officers working on Operation Branchform arrested Peter Murrell and took him into police custody for questioning.
Three days later the then SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested at his home in Midlothian and later released without charge pending further investigation.
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was then arrested and taken into custody on 11 June. She was released without charge seven hours later.
Sturgeon and Beattie were formally told they were no longer under investigation in March last year.
Murrell was re-arrested and charged on 18 April 2024. He first appeared in court last March, where he made no plea and was granted bail.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston praised the work of police officers working on Operation Branchform, describing the investigation as “lengthy and extremely complex”.
He said officers had spent more than four years carrying out "extensive enquiries across Europe”.
Houston said the Branchform investigation had been “one of the most high-profile investigations in recent times” and had been carried out under “the most intense public scrutiny”.
“It is testimony to the work of Police Scotland officers and staff that has led to Peter Murrell’s admission of guilt early in the court process,” he added.
Image source, Police ScotlandPeter Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP
One of Scotland’s most senior police officers has said Murrell showed “utter contempt” for the trust placed in him.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said the former SNP chief executive “abused his privileged position” in order to “bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford”.
He added: “From 2010 to 2022 he spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on luxury goods while carefully trying to hide his criminality with false receipts and accounting.
“He must now face the consequences of his actions.”
Paul O'Hare
BBC Scotland reporter at the High Court in Edinburgh
Image source, PA MediaMurrell appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh
Judge Lord Young asked Murrell to stand after he lodged the guilty plea.
“Over a 12 year period you embezzled over £400,000 from the SNP," he told him.
“As chief executive of that organisation over that period your actions were a gross breach of trust.”
A full narrative of the facts will be read out when the case calls again on 2 June.
Murrell will also be subject to a future proceeds of crime action.
He was handcuffed before a hushed courtroom, then led from the dock.
The moment capped a remarkable fall from grace for a man who was once one of Scotland’s most powerful political figures.
Angus Cochrane
BBC Scotland senior political reporter
As SNP chief executive for more than 20 years, Peter Murrell oversaw a historic period of electoral success.
Throughout that time he was happy to operate in the background, shying away from personal publicity.
Murrell was perhaps best known as the husband of former SNP leader and first minister Nicola Sturgeon. The couple married in 2010 but separated last year.
Sturgeon resigned as first minister in February 2023 and Murrell stepped down from his role a month later, after admitting to misleading the media about SNP membership figures.
He was arrested in April 2023 following a police raid at the house he shared with Sturgeon and the SNP's Edinburgh headquarters.
Having never sought the limelight, Murrell found himself thrust into it.
Paul O'Hare
BBC Scotland News
Murrell was handcuffed and led from the dock after his guilty plea.
He remained impassive throughout.
He was remanded in custody until sentencing on 23 June.
Paul O'Hare
BBC Scotland reporter at the High Court in Edinburgh
After a lengthy list of deletions from the original charge was read out to the court, Murrell's lawyer John Scullion KC said his client pleaded guilty to the amended indictment.
Lord Young told Murrell he was responsible for a “gross breach of trust”.
Advocate Depute Alan Cameron KC told the court Murrell had no previous convictions.
Paul O'Hare
BBC Scotland reporter at the High Court in Edinburgh
Advocate Depute Alan Cameron KC read out a series of deletions to the original indictment faced by Murrell.
It emerged earlier this year that he had been charged with embezzling £459,046.49 between 12 August 2010 and 13 January 2023.
The total sum has now fallen to £400,310.65.
The offences were carried out between 12 August 2010 and 19 October 2022.
Murrell entered court at about 10:15, carrying a black bag, and took his place in the dock flanked by two security officers.
He was wearing a grey suit, white shirt and a dark tie.
Image source, PA MediaFormer SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has admitted embezzling funds from the party over a 12-year period.
Murrell, the estranged husband of the former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The offences were carried out between August 2010 and October 2022
