THE jury in the trial of Alex Salmond will return to the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday to consider their verdict on sexual assault allegations against the former first minister. 

Mr Salmond denies 13 alleged sexual offences against nine women, who worked either for the Scottish government or the SNP.

The accusations span a period between June 2008 and November 2014 and range from him stroking a civil servant's hair to trying to rape a former Scottish government official in Bute House.

Judge Lady Dorrian told jurors they must decide whether the charges have been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Gordon Jackson QC, defending, said yesterday there was a "pattern" where "something that was thought nothing of at the time" had become a criminal charge in the High Court in Edinburgh.

He said: "I'm not here to suggest he always behaved well or couldn't have been a better man on occasions. That would be a waste of my time.

"But I'm in a court of law and I'm dealing, not with whether he could have been a better man, because he certainly could have been better.”

"I'm dealing with whether or not it was established he was guilty of serious, sometimes very serious, criminal charges."

Mr Jackson told the jury to find the charges proved requires a "very, very high standard of proof".

He suggested there was something "strange" about the allegations turning from being inappropriate to criminal, telling the jury the case "stinks."

Mr Salmond's lawyers previously lodged special defences of consent and alibi.

Consent was given as a defence for three alleged sexual assaults and an alleged indecent assault against three women.