IT looks like the haul of a particularly successful Generation Game win.
But these household items — and campervan — were what former chief executive thought it worth embezzling £400,000 of party funds to buy.
Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s shamed fraudster husband, was jailed for five years after admitting embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP Credit: Getty
The Niesmann and Bischoff motorhome, £124,000 Credit: PA
As the 61-year-old ex-husband of former Scottish First Minister was jailed for five years and three months yesterday, what everyone huddled in Edinburgh’s High Court wanted to know was: “Why?”
Why steal SNP members’ money to buy everything from a £14 mug to a £3,232 coffee machine?
But as pictures of some of his purchases were released yesterday, those seeking an explanation were none the wiser.
Murrell, who was subject to a five-year, £3million investigation, refused to explain his actions and instead walked silently to the waiting prison van.
His barrister made no mention of any involuntary compulsion and the court was told that he was wealthy enough to repay the £400,000.
Before passing sentence, judge Lord Young told Murrell: “In truth, it is very difficult to get a clear picture of what drove your actions. Many of the high-value items were not even used.
“I cannot find any factors that caused you to offend, which might be considered to be mitigatory factors.”
The full list of items bought by Murrell was published for the first time during the court proceedings.
From left: Dyson SV14 V11 Absolute vacuum, £599, Dyson Supersonic stand, Neville Johnson fitted home library, first payment of £1,946, Everbuild decorator’s caulk x 12, £21.50, Smythson tea set, £2,396
From top left: Jura watch, £4,555.25, Jura watch, £4,795, Boiler cupboard, £367.22, Selection of Montblanc pens from one haul costing £6,670, Socket set, £31.95
Looking at the goods, he certainly was not hunting for bargains.
Want to season your food?
There are cheaper options than two sets of Feuilles salt and pepper grinders, at a combined cost of £2,618.
You could also wash for less than the £362 Murrell splashed out on Molton Brown infusing eucalyptus shower gels.
However, information given at court yesterday did offer an insight into how Murrell hid his crimes, from August 2010 to October 2022.
Clockwise from top left: Smythson coronet bag, £466.20, Philips runner 4-spot fixture light, £145.18, Mara bureau from Smythson, £1681.10, Le Creuset measuring spoons and cups, £43, Alessi teapot, £220
Clockwise from top left: Joseph Joseph kitchen utensil x 2, £8.80 each, Joseph Joseph tongs, £13, Reed diffuser, John Lewis, £120, Hamilton & Inches hand-chased wine coaster in Britannia Silver, £3,500, Gillette Fusion5 razor blades, eight-pack, £24.65,
He used “misleading descriptions and/or accounting codes” to suggest his purchases were for genuine reasons.
In one example, a silver wine coaster costing £3,500 was listed as “leadership expenses” and in another a £3,070 robotic lawnmower was described as “legal fees”.
“calculated” and a “significant breach of trust”, but described his crimes as “not particularly sophisticated”.
Which raises the question: Why did the SNP not spot funds going missing earlier?
From left: Dyson HD01 hair dryer and box, £349.99, Robotic mower, £3,070, Peugeot Saveurs salt and pepper mills, £702, Dyson lamp, £656.94
From left: Mara bureau from Smythson, £1681.10, Le Creuset enamel on steel Zen tea kettle, £85.24, Le Creuset mug x 6, £14 each, Smythson folios x 3, £794
Murrell already had a reputation for “sticky fingers” prior to being made chief executive in 2001.
When he worked as a research assistant for former SNP leader Alex Salmond in 1994 it is claimed Murrell forged his boss’s signature on parliamentary expenses.
, who served as the SNP’s Justice Secretary, claimed: “Some money went missing and Alex squared up the money himself and hoped he would learn his lesson.”
SNP members became concerned about discrepancies in 2020, with a blogger pointing out that only £97,000 remained in a fund that was expected to contain £667,000.
From left: Oyster jewellery box £2,495, Le Creuset stainless steel wok with lid, £170, Jura coffee machine, £3,231.90
Sean Clerkin said: ‘We’re looking at a possible private prosecution of Nicola Sturgeon’ Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
After three party officials resigned in March 2021 because they had been barred from inspecting the accounts, the police became involved.
The Sun can reveal that it was Murrell’s taste for pricey Le Creuset goods which convinced detectives something was amiss.
He had bought himself a stainless steel preserving pan for £118, a casserole dish for £330 and a cast-iron grill pan for £125.
initially arrested his then-wife Nicola too.
On the advice of her lawyer she refused to answer any questions and was released without charge.
In a statement last night, her lawyer, Aamer Anwar , said: “It is clear following a two-year, gold-plated and robust investigation, Ms Sturgeon was neither charged, prosecuted nor convicted of any offence.
“Ms Sturgeon is innocent of any crime.”
But if Sturgeon or the SNP are hoping Murrell’s prison sentence will be the end of the matter, they need to think again.
Sean Clerkin, who raised the alarm in March 2021, and former SNP official David Henry are considering seeking compensation.
Outside Edinburgh High Court yesterday, Clerkin said: “We’re looking at a possible private prosecution of Nicola Sturgeon.
“We will be writing to the Crown Office to demand a review of the decision taken not to prosecute Nicola Sturgeon.”
They also want the victims to receive a full refund of the £400,000.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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