Former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell is this morning behind bars after admitting embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.
Murrell, the estranged husband of ex First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, blew party funds on bizarre luxuries like Lalique salt and pepper grinders priced at £2,618.16, a £4,225 James Bond fountain pen, and the infamous £124,550 motorhome.
He also treated himself to a £110 pencil sharpener, three designer umbrellas for £975, designer clothing and even a £75.55 onesie.
Murrell admitted, the BBC reports, to embezzling a total of £400,310.65 between August 12 2010 and October 19 2022.
Murrell's sentencing has been deferred until June 23 for background reports and he has been remanded in custody.
In the wake of the court hearing, Sturgeon said she felt "angry, hurt, sad and very distressed about the impact of his actions on family, friends and the SNP".
But her claims to have had no knowledge of her partner's wrongdoings have drawn scrutiny, The Times reports.
Ex SNP MP Joanna Cherry queried: “How could all these luxury items be flowing into someone’s house without questions being asked?
“Nicola Sturgeon is trying to paint herself as the victim in all of this. But she was at the forefront of shutting down questioning.
“She’s not the victim, the victims are the ordinary, working-class independence supporters who give £10 or £20 a month to the party in the belief it will advance the cause of independence.”
Sturgeon later responded to this scrutiny, stating: "In relation to many of the items in question, for example expensive watches and games consoles, I was not aware of them having been purchased at all.
"Indeed in relation to the item of largest value – a campervan – I was not aware of its existence until it featured in the police investigation in early 2023, nor was it parked in our driveway as has been claimed by some.
"In respect of any items I was aware of Peter having purchased, I had no reason to doubt that he had used his own money.
"We were both earning high salaries and, due to the responsibilities of my job, rarely socialised or went on holidays. We had separate bank accounts and I had no access to his financial records."