Disgraced ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden to launch bid to overturn conviction and sentence

A disgraced former SNP council leader who preyed on young men and boys intends to launch a bid to overturn his conviction and sentence.

Jordan Linden, 30, was jailed for 18 months last week for a spate of offences, including five sexual assaults, stalking and unwanted sexual communication.

Linden denied any wrongdoing during a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court and refused to apologise to his victims when repeatedly challenged by Sky News ahead of his sentencing.

On Monday, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) confirmed it had received an intimation of intention to appeal (IIA) against his conviction and sentence.

The note of appeal is due by 2 July.

Linden's offences took place over 10 years between 2011 and 2021.

The then rising political star stepped down as North Lanarkshire Council leader in July 2022 when the offences first came to light, which at the time led to the collapse of the SNP administration.

He later quit the council and the party in March 2023, before eventually being charged in February 2024.

All of the victims were either boys or young men, with the youngest who received unwanted sexual communication aged just 14.

Police Scotland said Linden, who also chaired the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) between 2015 and 2016, sexually assaulted two victims at a house party following a Dundee Pride parade in 2019.

In total, Linden was convicted of five sexual assaults; three counts of stalking; one count of coercing a person to look at a sexualised image and communicating indecently; and one count of intentionally causing another person to look at a sexual image without consent.

He was jeered by a crowd as he arrived at court last Wednesday for his punishment.

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Defence lawyer David Moggach KC claimed his client had faced difficulties in his teenage years due to bullying over his sexuality and suffered "social isolation".

He added that Linden "now appreciates that he overstepped certain boundaries and now knows where those boundaries are".

Sheriff Christopher Shead jailed Linden for 18 months and placed him on the sex offenders' register.

Linden blew a kiss to his dad as he was being led away to the cells.

In light of the case, SNP leader John Swinney has since instructed for an independent review of the party's complaints procedures.

Mr Swinney urged Linden to apologise to his victims, stating: "I think an apology would be necessary, appropriate and essential."

While going to and from court, Sky News' Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies repeatedly asked the convicted sex offender if he wished to apologise for his actions.

Linden replied: "I don't have any comment to make at this time."

(c) Sky News 2026: Disgraced ex-SNP council leader Jordan Linden to launch bid to overturn conviction and sentenc