Former SNP councillor charged with multiple sexual offences

Image source, Google

Image caption, A former leader of North Lanarkshire council was charged

A former SNP council leader has been charged with multiple sexual offences.

Jordan Linden, who stood down as leader of North Lanarkshire Council two years ago, is understood to have been arrested and released on Wednesday.

Police Scotland said the arrested man was charged with a "number of non-recent sexual offences committed at various locations in Scotland".

Mr Linden became a councillor for the Bellshill ward during the 2017 local elections.

He was elected as leader of the council in May 2022 but resigned from the post a few weeks later when a newspaper published allegations against him.

He initially continued serving as a councillor but resigned from both the council and the SNP last year.

An SNP spokesperson said: "While we cannot comment on live proceedings, if any SNP members are impacted by this then we want to make clear that we are here to support them as best we can."