Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has been remanded in custody at the High Court in Edinburgh after pleading guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from the political party.
Murrell admitted the charges when he appeared at the court on Monday morning.
The former chief executive, who is Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband, was charged with embezzling the funds from the Scottish National Party between August 2010 and October 2022.
He admitted an amended indictment which reduced the amount of the embezzled money down from more than £459,000.
He arrived at the High Court on Monday wearing a dark blue suit with a black tie.
His guilty plea was tendered on his behalf by his lawyer, John Scullion KC.
Judge Lord Young afterwards told Murrell: “You have pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement over a period of 12 years.
“You embezzled just over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party.
“As the chief executive officer of that organisation throughout that period your actions constitute a gross breach of trust.”
Sentencing is due to take place on June 23.
Murrell, 61, has admitted using the SNP’s money to buy items including a motorhome and luxury goods, and towards the purchase of two cars.
A list of hundreds of other purchases includes designer kitchenware, multiple pairs of shoes, expensive pens and a £1,200 space telescope.
The former party boss was first arrested in April 2023 as part of the police investigation into the SNP’s finances, and was charged in April 2024.
He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in March 2025 where he faced a charge of embezzlement, making no plea.
The indictment included allegations that in 2020 Murrell used party funds to buy a £124,550 motorhome for his own personal use, and that he falsified accounting records in an effort to cover up his wrongdoing.
Until he stood down in 2023 during the leadership race to succeed Ms Sturgeon, Murrell had been chief executive of the SNP for more than 20 years.
They had previously been one of the most powerful couples in UK politics for many years, with Ms Sturgeon serving for more than eight years as Scottish first minister and SNP leader, while Mr Murrell was the chief executive of the party.
In January last year, Ms Sturgeon announced she and Murrell had “decided to end” their marriage.
In a statement posted on social media Ms Sturgeon, who stepped down as an MSP ahead of the Holyrood election earlier this month, said her reaction was “difficult to put into words”.
“To be deceived a let down by a husband I loved and trusted has caused me acute pain,” she wrote.
“Why he acted as he did is, and always will be, beyond my comprehension.
“To be clear: I had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes.
“I am utterly appalled that he did so and cannot begin to understand why”.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, First Minister John Swinney expressed his “personal horror” at Murrell’s offending.
“By embezzling from the SNP, Peter Murrell was stealing the hopes, the dreams, and the aspirations of thousands of people all over Scotland, people who gave what they could over many years in the hope that it would help contribute to a better country,” he said.
“So today I am horrified, I am betrayed.”
Murrell’s conviction is the result of a police investigation called Operation Branchform, which was first launched in 2021.
The operation investigated the SNP’s funding and finances and involved several high-profile arrests.
The policing cost of the long-running investigation reached more than £2 million.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “This was a lengthy and extremely complex case due to the scale of criminality over a 12-year period and the lengths Peter Murrell went to try and cover his tracks.”
He added: “Peter Murrell has shown utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him as the chief executive of a political party and his position in the wider political establishment in Scotland for many years.
“He abused his privileged position with access to Scottish National Party funds to divert cash into his own accounts and bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford.
“From 2010 to 2022 he spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on luxury goods while carefully trying to hide his criminality with false receipts and accounting.
“He must now face the consequences of his actions.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “After years of investigations, millions of pounds of public money and one conveniently timed election, Peter Murrell has finally had to own up to his crimes.
“This bombshell plea does not put the issue to bed – far from it.
She added: “John Swinney needs to come clean and explain what he knew and what the party knew.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Peter Murrell has finally taken the rap for being a thieving magpie – but he used vast sums of the stolen cash to feather the marital nest he shared with Nicola Sturgeon.
“His crime spree took place right under her nose over many years while they jointly held a vice-like grip on the SNP.”
