Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party
The offences were carried out 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
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
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
