{"id":618300,"date":"2026-06-03T04:59:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T04:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/618300\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T04:59:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T04:59:13","slug":"peter-murrells-124000-motorhome-only-driven-four-miles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/618300\/","title":{"rendered":"Peter Murrell’s \u00a3124,000 motorhome only ‘driven four miles’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The luxury motorhome, bought by Peter Murrell with more than \u00a3124,000 of SNP funds, was driven only four miles.<\/p>\n

During a hearing at Edinburgh High Court, prosecutors laid out the narrative of the 12 years of embezzlement carried out by SNP\u2019s former chief executive and Nicola Sturgeon\u2019s estranged husband.<\/p>\n

In 2020, Murrell bought a \u00a3124,550 Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4e motorhome for his own personal use from a dealership in Stafford.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\"PeterSTV NewsPeter Murrell in the dock at Edinburgh High Court on June 2, 2026 STV News<\/p>\n

It was delivered to him at Halbeath Industrial Estate in Dunfermline. The 61-year-old then drove it to his mother\u2019s house in the city where it remained.<\/p>\n

The vehicle was seized by officers and, on inspecting the odometer, they discovered it had only driven four miles.<\/p>\n

\"InsideCrown OfficeInside the The \u00a3124,550 Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4e motorhome bought by Peter Murrell with SNP funds. Crown Office<\/p>\n

Murrell created a false invoice, listing the SNP HQ as the address and claiming it was a van bought for party purposes.<\/p>\n

After it was queried, he suggested to colleagues that the motorhome could be used for campaign purposes. No other SNP staff member or politician ever saw the motorhome.<\/p>\n

When police searched the vehicle, they found no SNP campaign materials or other party paraphernalia.<\/p>\n

\"TheCrown OfficeThe \u00a3124,550 Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4e motorhome bought by Peter Murrell with SNP funds. Crown Office<\/p>\n

It, the prosecution said, was configured as a motorhome for pleasure purposes.<\/p>\n

Inside, officers found expensive Le Creuset and Joseph and Joseph kitchenware, an Alessi teapot and Molton Brown toiletries.<\/p>\n

Shortly after buying the motorhome, Murrell bought guides for \u201cinspirational journeys\u201d around Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland in a motorhome.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Luxury watches recorded as \u2018event merchandise\u2019\u00a0by SNP software \"\" <\/a>\"Play<\/p>\n

Advocate depute Alan Cameron KC read out a list of items while setting out the prosecution narrative at the hearing, which took place before judge Lord Young.<\/p>\n

A number of luxury watches worth \u00a39,000 were among the items purchased using party funds.<\/p>\n

The purchases were recorded as \u201cevent merchandise\u201d by the SNP\u2019s accounting software. He also\u00a0purchased an egg poacher for \u00a323 and logged it as \u201ccomputer hardware purchases \u2013 internet cabling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u00a33,000Crown Office\u00a33,000 robotic lawnmower Crown Office<\/p>\n

The court also heard that Murrell bought a \u00a33,000 robotic lawnmower, as well as Montblanc items worth more than \u00a323,000.<\/p>\n

Mr Cameron KC said: \u201cThis item was described as legal fees and found when police searched his house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of the items were not seized during the warrants executed at Murrell\u2019s home and the SNP HQ.<\/p>\n

The items recovered from his home included two luxury coffee machines and a \u00a33,000 robotic lawnmower.<\/p>\n

Police found but did not remove a fitted home library installed with party funds, a wooden library ladder, a bathroom vanity, a boiler unit in the kitchen, and fitted mats.<\/p>\n

\"ACrown OfficeA hand-chased silver wine coaster from Hamilton & Inches jewellers costing \u00a33,500 was misdescribed as spending on \u201cleadership expenses\u201d with the description \u201cHamilton & Inches sterling silver presentation quaiches\u201d. Crown Office<\/p>\n

A hand-chased silver wine coaster from Hamilton & Inches jewellers costing \u00a33,500 was misdescribed as spending on \u201cleadership expenses\u201d with the description \u201cHamilton & Inches sterling silver presentation quaiches\u201d.<\/p>\n

It was found at the accused\u2019s home when it was searched by police.<\/p>\n

What happens next?<\/p>\n

Murrell will return to the High Court in Edinburgh on June 23 where he will be sentenced. Until then, he remains in custody.<\/p>\n

There are no formal sentencing guidelines for embezzlement in Scotland, but precedent indicates that for amounts over \u00a3100,000, a custodial sentence will be imposed.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Michael Paterson was jailed for four years after being found to have exploited his role with Aberdeen City Council to embezzle a total of \u00a31,087,444 from his employer over a 17-year period.<\/p>\n

In 2023, the office manager of an Edinburgh property firm stole \u00a3900,000 through embezzlement and fraud and was sentenced to three years\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>\n

In 2022, former SNP MP Natalie McGarry was sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty of embezzling almost \u00a325,000 from two pro-independence groups.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0How long will Peter Murrell be jailed for after embezzling \u00a3400,000?<\/a><\/p>\n

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