Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband previously admitted to stealing from the SNP
STV News is reporting that the SNP’s former chief executive has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after admitting to embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the party.
Peter Murrell appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh today (Tuesday), where Judge Lord Young told him that he had carried out “a significant breach of trust”.
He added that Murrell would have faced a seven-year sentence had he not pleaded guilty at the preliminary hearing.
The judge told the 61-year-old that he could not identify any factors that caused him to offend and that could be considered mitigatory.
“It is very difficult to get a clear picture of what drove your actions, with many high-value items unused”, Lord Young said.
He said Murrell presents a “minimal risk of general reoffending” according to risk assessments.
His sentence will be backdated to May 25, when he was first remanded in custody.
Murrell, the estranged husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, embezzled funds from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022.
The 61-year-old used the money to buy numerous items – including a motorhome and luxury goods – and towards the purchase of two cars.
Lord Young previously told Murrell his actions amounted to a gross breach of trust and that his offending had increased in frequency and amount over time.
He was originally accused of embezzling £459,049, but this was reduced to £400,310.65. The indictment stated that in 2020, Murrell used party funds to buy a £124,550 motorhome for his own personal use.
He also used £57,500 of SNP money to buy an £81,000 Jaguar I-PACE in 2019, and £16,489 to buy a £33,000 Volkswagen Golf in early 2016.
In his sentencing remarks, Lord Young told Murrell: “Your actions involved a significant breach of trust to the organisation which you led, and to the individual members and donors of that organisation.
“Because of your position of authority. You were able to circumvent the checks and balances that existed. The manner of the embezzlement, although not particularly sophisticated, included the fabrication of invoices.
“You gave false information to junior members of staff to input into the accounting system.
Peter Murrell’s £124,000 motorhome
Further details of the former SNP chief executive’s embezzlement have been revealed
“This is a calculated crime of dishonesty. And let me make it clear to you, one factor in the sentence which I imposed today will be to act as a deterrent to any senior officials and other large organisations who might be tempted to abuse their position in the way that you did.
“The office of the Criminal Justice Social Work Report sought to explore with you the reasons for your offending. You identified possible factors arising from your background, working life and personal circumstances.
“But in truth, it is very difficult to get a clear picture of what drove your actions. Many of the high-value items acquired by you were not even used.
“And for my purposes today, I think it’s sufficient to say that I cannot identify any factors which caused you to offend, which might be considered to be mitigating factors.”
‘Figure of public ridicule’
Murrell’s lawyer, John Scullion KC, told the court that his client had “behaved dishonestly and went to considerable lengths to cover his crimes”.
He added that he accepts full responsibility for his actions and that his guilty plea had been “life-changing” and had ended his career and future career prospects.
In his statement before sentencing, Mr Scullion said Murrell has been “overwhelmed by feelings of embarrassment and shame”
He added: “Since 2020, he has gradually withdrawn from social contact. He has lived in social isolation at times to the detriment of his health.
Peter Murrell’s police interviews released
“He does not consider himself worthy of sympathy and acknowledges that a custodial sentence is deserved.”
Murrell was described as being ostracised by his friends and many of his colleagues.
Mr Scullion said he has become “a figure of public ridicule” whose sentence may prove “lifelong” with
“His sentence may prove lifelong, and his future after custody bleak.”
Investigation
Assistant chief constable Stuart Houston had oversight of Police Scotland’s investigation into the embezzlement, Operation Branchform.
ACC Houston said: “Today’s sentencing of Peter Murrell – and a sentence of such duration – is proof that those who flout the law, who break the trust of those around them, and who embezzle vast sums of money will not escape justice, regardless of how high a profile or role they may hold.
“Operation Branchform has been an extremely detailed, complex and intricate enquiry, carried out over a protracted period of time to ensure a thorough investigation which fully exposed the extent of this wrongdoing, committed over a sustained period of time.
“Murrell occupied a significant position of privilege and power in public life in Scotland, entrusted to oversee the day-to-day operations of the country’s governing political party. His undeniably deliberate and calculated actions to mislead and steal for his own personal gain have proved his disregard for those who placed their trust in him.
“People came forward and told us of their sense and experiences of things not being right, and they are to be publicly commended – their statements, combined with our investigations, have led to the outcome we see today.
“Through ongoing close work with key criminal justice partners, including the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, this enquiry resulted in the compilation of such a robust case that an early admission of guilt was secured, enabling proceedings to conclude sooner rather than later.
“My sincere thanks go to the officers and staff of Police Scotland, who have committed their specialist knowledge, professionalism, commitment and expertise to this matter from start to finish, and without whom we would not have been able to achieve justice.
“Work remains to be undertaken regarding the Proceeds of Crime Act relating to this case by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Police Scotland, and in particular the Cyber and Fraud Unit, will assist in this process and in any further investigations which may be required.”
In July 2021, Police Scotland confirmed that detectives were investigating the party’s finances after seven complaints were made about donations to the SNP.
The probe cast a shadow over the party for several years, and Sturgeon stunned the political world by suddenly announcing her resignation as First Minister on February 15, 2023.
Sturgeon, 54, and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, 73, were arrested and questioned as part of the investigation in June 2023 but were released without charge.
Operation Branchform concluded in March last year when police confirmed that Sturgeon and Beattie would face no further action.
Sturgeon said she had been “vindicated” and that there was “never a scrap of evidence” against her.
What did Peter Murrell purchase?
Murrell’s purchases ranged from Andrex toilet paper to a £124,000 motorhome.
He bought gaming consoles, games, DVD box sets and books, men’s and women’s clothing, luxury kitchen utensils, fancy glassware, gardening gear, power tools, Chinese curry sauce paste, shortbread and shoes.
In the days after losing the independence referendum, he bought FIFA 15 Ultimate Edition for the PS4.
He bought £12,000 worth of Apple products. He spent thousands on Montblanc pens – including £3,000 on John F Kennedy and Beatles special editions.
He bought thousands of pounds worth of Le Creuset products, spent more than a grand on mug warmers, bought Lalique Feuilles salt and pepper grinders worth £2,618, and spent £3,000 on a luxury bone china tea set.
He bought expensive Advent calendars, including two from Fortnum and Mason at £200 each. He spent just over £42,660 on Amazon.
In 2016, he used £16,489 in party funds towards a £33,000 Volkswagen Golf. In 2019, he used £12,042 towards buying an £81,000 Jaguar I-PACE car.
In 2020, Murrell bought a £124,550 Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4e motorhome for his own personal use.
Sentencing remarks in full
“Peter Murrell, last month, you pled guilty to a single charge of embezzlement. You carried out a large number of fraudulent acts over 12 years while you were the chief executive officer of the Scottish National Party.
“In total, a sum of just over £400,000 was taken from that organisation, and your offending increased in frequency and in amount over time.
“As set out in the criminal justice social work report that I now have, you found yourself unable to stop this offending, and it was only the detection of the crime which brought it to an end.
“Your actions involved a significant breach of trust to the organisation, which you led, and to the individual members and donors of that organisation.
“Because of your position of authority, you were able to circumvent the checks and balances that existed.
“The manner of the embezzlement, although not particularly sophisticated, included the fabrication of invoices; you gave false information to junior members of staff to input into the accounting system.
“All told, this is a calculated crime of dishonesty, and let me make it clear to you, one factor in the sentence which I impose today will be to act as a deterrent to any senior officials in other large organisations who might be tempted to abuse their position in the way that you did.
“On any view, the sum involved in this case was a substantial one, and the period involved was a long one.
“Now, the author of the criminal justice social work report sought to explore with you the reasons for your offending.
“You identified possible factors arising from your background, working life, and personal circumstances, but, in truth, it is very difficult to get a clear picture for what drove your actions.
“Many of the high-value items acquired by you were not even used, and for my purposes today, I think it’s sufficient to say that I cannot identify any factors which caused you to offend, which might be considered to be mitigatory. Now, I’ve listened very carefully to everything said on your behalf by Mr Scullion. You are, of course, a first offender, albeit this indictment covers a lengthy period of time.
“I acknowledge that you have played an important and committed role within a very successful political party in Scotland, and the public coverage of your downfall will make future employment difficult, if not impossible.
“The author of the criminal justice social work report considers that you are not attempting to minimise or excuse your offending in any way.
“You are described as remorseful, and I accept that.
“You present a minimal risk of general reoffending according to the risk assessments carried out on you.
“I am also told that a full repayment of the sums embezzled can reasonably be expected from your own personal funds, and I shall proceed on that basis.
“Now, you pled guilty to this charge at an early stage. I am told that, in early March, shortly after this indictment was served, you gave instructions to your legal advisers to discuss a potential plea with the Crown.
“The precise terms of that plea were adjusted over a period of 11 weeks, and given the complexity of this case, it is understandable that the Crown and your legal advisers required time for that process to be followed through.
“By pleading guilty at the preliminary hearing, there is a significant benefit to the judicial system by the avoidance of a lengthy and complex criminal trial which would have lasted many weeks and I shall accordingly make the appropriate reduction to the headline sentence in accordance with Section 196 of the 1995 Act.
“Turning now to that sentence. If you had been found guilty of this charge after trial, I would have imposed a sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.
“Having pled guilty at the preliminary hearing, I impose a sentence of five years, three months imprisonment.
“I shall backdate that sentence to May 25 2026, when you are first remanded in custody. That is all.”