A FORMER SNP official from the Borders has been accused of threatening behaviour towards female witnesses who gave evidence during the Alex Salmond trial.
Mark Hirst, 50, allegedly posted a video on the internet in which he is said to have made threatening remarks about the complainers at the former First Minister's trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March.
The offence is said to have happened at his home near Jedburgh, on March 29.
Hirst – who has worked for nationalist MSPs at Holyrood – pleaded not guilty through lawyer Michael Gallen to the charge and a trial date was set for January 7 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
The charge alleges he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner in that he created a video recording in which he uttered threatening remarks directed at the complainers in the High Court prosecution of Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond and did upload the video to the internet.
Mr Salmond was cleared of 13 charges of sexual assault against nine women following his trial in March.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here