Peter Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after admitting to embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP) over a 12-year period. The theft occurred while Murrell served as the party's chief executive, from 2010 to 2022.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Young described Murrell's actions as a 'calculated crime of dishonesty' involving a 'significant breach of trust' that affected both the party and its donors. The judge imposed the sentence as a deterrent to other senior officials in large organisations who might be tempted to abuse their positions.
Murrell used the stolen funds to purchase luxury items, including a motorhome, a Jaguar SUV, Montblanc pens, luxury watches, Lalique salt and pepper grinders, and 2kg of coffee granules. He concealed the theft by entering false accounting codes and submitting falsified invoices. The total amount stolen was £400,310.65.
Defence lawyer John Scullion KC told the court that Murrell felt 'guilt and remorse' and accepted that prison was 'entirely deserved'. Scullion added that Murrell had become isolated and a figure of public ridicule, with no prospect of reoffending. A confiscation hearing to recover the stolen funds has been postponed until mid-September.
The case has also raised questions about Sturgeon's cooperation with the police investigation, known as Operation Branchform. Officers said she failed to answer questions after being arrested as a suspect in June 2023, though she was later cleared.
