Peter Murrell showed no reaction as his sentence was imposed

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell showed no reaction as he was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday morning, after he admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.

The case has gripped the nation’s attention over recent weeks, ever since Murrell, who is Nicola Sturgeon’s former husband, pleaded guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 (€464,271.65) at the same court on May 25th.

Both that hearing, and a further narrative hearing on June 2nd, were attended by large numbers of journalists, court staff and members of the public.

The scene was repeated today, with the foyer outside the door of courtroom three packed with people hoping to find a seat in the public gallery.

Once the case had called and the onlookers had taken their seats, Murrell entered court via a side door that led directly to the dock.

The 61-year-old had arrived at the court building earlier that morning the back of a prison van.

He was dressed in a dark blue suit and was flanked by security officers, one of whom was handcuffed to him.

Once he reached his seat in the centre of the court, directly in front of the packed public gallery, the handcuffs were unlocked and the trio sat down.

The onlookers in the large courtroom, who watched proceedings through a plastic screen, included a large number of journalists, as well as police officers, court staff and members of the public.

Two television cameras had also been set up on the floor of the courtroom to broadcast the proceedings live.

The court was ordered to stand as judge Lord Young entered from a side door at the front of the courtroom, dressed in his wig and red and white robes.

The spectators and officials sat as he took up his seat, with only Murrell and his security officers left standing as the clerk announced the start of proceedings.

After regaining his seat, Murrell looked straight ahead with his arms down by his sides as proceedings got underway, with prosecutor Alan Cameron proposing a timetable for proceedings to recover the embezzled funds.

He continued to look on impassively as his lawyer John Scullion began mitigating on his behalf, with a speech focusing on the personal toll the proceedings had taken on his client.

He said Murrell was “overwhelmed by shame” at what he had done, and that he had been “ostracised” and had “lived in almost total isolation” for many months since his offending came to light.

He also said revelations about “the nature of many of his purchases” – which included a campervan and numerous luxury homewares – had made him a “figure of public ridicule”.

After a brief silence, Lord Young then ordered Murrell to stand up, which he did so very quickly, and began his sentencing remarks.

Murrell remained staring fixedly ahead throughout, and barely moved as the judge laid out the scale and scope of his offending.

“Your actions involved a significant breach of trust to the organisation, which you led, and to the individual members and donors of that organisation,” the judge told him.

“Because of your position of authority, you were able to circumvent the checks and balances that existed.”

He showed no reaction as the judge sentenced him to five years and three months in prison, before the judge closed his remarks with the words “that is all”.

The court was ordered to rise again as the judge stood up, at which point Murrell was re-handcuffed to the officer and led back out of court to return to prison.

There had been issues with the sound levels in court during Murrell’s last two appearances – once, on May 25th, when he pleaded guilty, and then on June 2nd for a narrative hearing.

This had left those in the public gallery leaning forward and straining to make out what those on the floor of the courtroom were saying.

However, those in attendance on Tuesday were relieved to find the issue had been resolved, and the proceedings were clearly audible.