00:03Peter Morel, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party and ex-husband of Scotland's former First Minister, Nicola
00:11Sturgeon, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison.
00:15The 61-year-old was convicted in May of embezzling more than 400,000 pounds of party funds.
00:22If you had been found guilty of this charge after trial, I would have imposed the sentence of seven years'
00:30imprisonment.
00:31Having pled guilty at the preliminary hearing, I imposed a sentence of five years, three months' imprisonment.
00:38I shall backdate that sentence to the 25th of May, 2026, when you're first remanded in custody.
00:44Some of his purchases included two luxury watches, a coffee machine, items from Mont Blanc and a motorhome.
00:51The police received a complaint for possible mismanagement of the party finances in 2021.
00:57Officers carried out a search of Morel's home in 2023 and arrested him.
01:02Morel served as chief executive of the SNP from 2001 to 2023.
01:07Police Scotland said the sentence was proof that those who flout the law will not escape justice, regardless of how
01:14high a profile or role they may hold.
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