Jordan Linden is expected to be sent to prison after being convicted in March 2026 of ten sexual offences, including the sexual assault of five young men and boys. The 30-year-old former SNP council leader for North Lanarkshire, who also served as chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament, is due to be sentenced on 5 May 2026. He is currently on bail.

Who Is Jordan Linden?

Jordan Linden, aged 30, was a rising figure in Scottish politics before allegations against him emerged in 2022. He joined the Scottish Youth Parliament at age 15 in 2011 and went on to become its chairman in 2015. He was elected as an SNP councillor for the Bellshill ward at North Lanarkshire Council in 2017, and in May 2022 was elected as Leader of North Lanarkshire Council — a position he held for only a matter of weeks before resigning when allegations about his behaviour became public. He also served in leadership roles within Young Scots for Independence, the SNP youth wing.

The Offences

At a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court in March 2026, Jordan Linden was found guilty of ten sexual offences spanning the period from 2011 to 2021 — a ten-year window during which he held positions of authority and influence in youth organisations and local government. The convictions include five counts of sexual assault against five young men and boys, as well as offences relating to causing fear and alarm and directing unwanted sexual communications at seven teenagers aged 14 and over.

Among the conduct described during the trial was the cornering of a 14-year-old boy in a hotel room and repeatedly touching him, as well as the sending of explicit images — including pictures of his genitalia — to multiple teenagers, some of whom were as young as 14. The jury delivered four unanimous guilty verdicts on the sexual assault charges. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on one sexual assault charge and five stalking and sexual communication charges, meaning a total of ten out of fifteen original counts resulted in guilty verdicts.

The Trial

The trial lasted seven days and the jury took less than four hours to return its verdicts. Linden had faced a total of fifteen charges but was acquitted of five. Following the verdict, he was released on continued bail to await a sentencing hearing. He has been placed on the sex offenders register, which carries restrictions on his activities and movements and requires him to notify police of his whereabouts on a regular basis.

The sentencing hearing has been deferred to 5 May 2026 to allow for the preparation of pre-sentencing reports, which are used by the court to assess factors relevant to the appropriate sentence, such as risk of reoffending and any mitigating circumstances. Given the nature and volume of the offences, legal commentators have noted that a custodial sentence is likely. For information on how the process works for those about to enter the prison system, our guide to booking a prison visit and our page on sending money to a prisoner may be relevant for those close to Linden.

The Victims and Systemic Failures

Evidence at the trial suggested that complaints about Linden’s behaviour had been made within youth organisations as early as 2015, when a private law firm investigation was commissioned following the circulation of explicit images among Scottish Youth Parliament members — some of whom were as young as 14. Despite this, Linden continued in his roles for a further seven years before being charged. Multiple witnesses described how his influence and status within the SNP and the Youth Parliament made it difficult for victims to come forward, and there were accounts of his behaviour being excused or minimised by those in authority around him.

Testimony and recordings released during proceedings indicated that some SNP councillors in North Lanarkshire voiced support for Linden after the allegations became public in 2022. The case has prompted broader questions about the culture within Scottish political organisations and how complaints of sexual misconduct are handled when the accused holds a position of power. For context on how the UK prison and parole systems handle sexual offenders, our guide on the UK Parole Board provides a useful overview.

Political Fallout

The conviction triggered an immediate political response. SNP leader John Swinney announced that an independent review would be conducted into the party’s complaints handling procedures in the wake of the verdict. Critics accused the SNP of having failed to act on early warning signs and of having fostered a culture in which junior members were reluctant to report abuse by prominent figures.

The Scottish Youth Parliament has also faced scrutiny and potential legal consequences, given that some of the offending took place within its structures and against its members. The case has been compared in its scale and institutional dimension to other recent high-profile cases of abuse within positions of authority across the UK’s political and charitable sectors. SNP leader John Swinney’s decision to commission an independent review of complaints processes signals the scale of the reputational damage the verdict has caused to the party.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jordan Linden in prison?

No, Jordan Linden is not currently in prison. He was convicted in March 2026 of ten sexual offences but has been released on bail pending a sentencing hearing. His sentencing is scheduled for 5 May 2026 at Falkirk Sheriff Court. A custodial sentence is widely expected given the nature and number of the offences for which he was convicted.

What was Jordan Linden convicted of?

Jordan Linden was convicted of ten offences following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court. These include five counts of sexual assault against five young men and boys, as well as offences related to causing fear and alarm and directing unwanted sexual communications at seven teenagers aged 14 and over. The offences took place between 2011 and 2021.

What role did Jordan Linden hold in Scottish politics?

Jordan Linden served as chairman of the Scottish Youth Parliament and was an SNP councillor for the Bellshill ward on North Lanarkshire Council. He was briefly elected as leader of North Lanarkshire Council in May 2022 but resigned within weeks when allegations about his conduct became public. He also held leadership positions in the SNP youth wing, Young Scots for Independence.

What sentence is Jordan Linden likely to receive?

Jordan Linden has been placed on the sex offenders register following his conviction. Legal commentators have noted that a custodial sentence is likely given the number and seriousness of the offences, the ages of some of the victims, the extended period over which the conduct took place, and the abuse of trust involved in his positions of authority over young people. The sentencing judge will take all of these factors into account on 5 May 2026.

Was Jordan Linden a member of the SNP?

Yes. Jordan Linden was a member of the Scottish National Party and an elected SNP councillor. He later left the SNP in 2024. Following his conviction in 2026, SNP leader John Swinney ordered an independent review of the party’s complaints procedures in response to criticism that early warnings about Linden’s behaviour had not been acted upon by the organisation.