IN THE DOCK
ALEX Salmond was surrounded by cops as appeared in court again for a preliminary hearing ahead of his trial next month over attempted rape and sex attack charges.
The former First Minister’s hearing this morning came after he pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges in November.
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His trial is set to begin in March.
Details of the hearing cannot be reported for legal reasons.
Mr Salmond is accused of trying to rape a woman at Bute House during the independence referendum campaign.
Court papers allege he placed her legs over his, repeatedly kissed her face and neck, and groped her then blocked her path.
He is then alleged to have pinned her against a wall, pulled at her clothes and stripped himself naked before trying to rape her on a bed.
The ex-SNP boss is also accused of sexually attacking a woman with intent to rape in December 2013.
He is alleged to have forced a woman to lie on his bed at Bute House, lay on top of her, groped her, struggled with her and pulled up her dress with intent to rape her.
Both incidents are said to have happened between the date of the Edinburgh Agreement in 2012 and the day of the independence vote in September 2014.
Overall the charges span from June 29, 2008, to November 11, 2014 - two months after he stepped down as First Minister.
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Speaking outside court following the November hearing, Mr Salmond said he was innocent and vowed to “vigorously” defend his position.
The former Nats chief served as Scotland’s First Minister between 2007 and 2014.
He was later an MP from 2015 to 2017.
Nicola Sturgeon says Derek Mackay's conduct is 'unacceptable' as he is suspended from SNP
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