Peter Murrell displayed “complete contempt for the public” by stealing money to finance his lavish lifestyle, stated Police Scotland.

Murrell is the former husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, from whom he is separated. He pleaded guilty to the charge that he embezzled £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP). This is alleged to have taken place over a period of 12 years. Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive officer, was led from the High Court in Edinburgh to prison in handcuffs, and sentencing will take place on 23 June, writes The Telegraph.

He was accused of using the money to purchase a motorhome, two cars, and a range of luxury goods, as well as falsifying accounting entries in order to conceal his crimes.

Murrell also purchased extremely expensive kitchen equipment, several pairs of shoes, costly pens, and a room telescope costing £1,200. He admitted to having used “false or inaccurate accounting codes and descriptions” in order to “conceal the true nature of the aforementioned purchases”.

Immediately after the conviction, speculation began as to whether it was truly possible that the spouse had been unaware of the crimes, and politicians from across the political spectrum are demanding answers as to what Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP knew prior to Monday’s hearing.

Jackie Baillie, deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party, claimed that it was “unthinkable that Nicola Sturgeon knew nothing about the extensive fraud, from which she herself benefited, and which took place right under her nose both within the party and in her own home”.

Baillie accused Sturgeon of having attempted to “obstruct critical scrutiny when questions about the finances began to emerge”.

Sturgeon herself says that she is “angry, hurt, sad, and deeply upset” by the confession, and claimed that she had been “misled” by Murrell, just like others. The two separated in January 2025.

After Murrell had pleaded guilty, Judge Lord Young stated afterwards:

“You have pleaded guilty to the charge of embezzlement over a period of 12 years. You embezzled just over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party.

As chief executive officer of this organisation throughout this entire period, your actions constitute a gross breach of trust.”