Gordon Jackson QC

Mr Salmond was vindicated last week of various sexual offence charges at the High Court in Edinburgh, our sister publication Scottish Legal News reports.

Mr Jackson, who is also Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, Scotland’s professional body for advocates, the equivalent of barristers, made the comments on a Glasgow to Edinburgh train in the first week of the trial and was filmed by a commuter.

In the footage, he can be heard saying: “This is hardly sexual … sex offenders register? Not for you. Inappropriate, arsehole, stupid … but sexual? Unfortunately, [names complainer] and [names another complainer] say it’s sexual.”

In a statement, the QC said: “I have decided that the proper course of action is to self-refer this matter to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, and that has been done.

“It will be for the commission to consider this matter. To be clear, however, I do not regard Alex Salmond as a ‘sex pest’, and any contrary impression is wrong. I also deeply regret the distress and difficulties which have been caused, but given the reference to the SLCC it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.”

Roddy Dunlop QC, Vice-Dean of Faculty, said: “The Faculty takes this matter extremely seriously. It plainly warrants investigation, but as the Dean has self-referred to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, it would not be appropriate for the Faculty to comment further.”