Alex Salmond trial: Mr Salmond claims allegations have been fabricated

Alex Salmond has claimed some of the allegations against him have been fabricated and others exaggerated out of proportion.

Former First Minister Alex Salmond arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh on day seven of his trial. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The former First Minister was giving evidence on day seven of his trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, where he denies 13 sex charges involving nine.women.

Mr Salmond said: "Events are being reinterpreted and exaggerated out of any possible proportion.

"Some but not all are fabrications, deliberate fabrications for political purposes.

" Some are exaggerations taken out of proportion.

"And the impact of some of the publicity over the past 18 months has led some people to revise their opinions and say 'Something happened to me'.

"People can get into a sausage machine and cannot get out of it even if they want to."

The former First Minister told the court his private office, staffed by civil servants, had a "family" atmosphere.

He said: "it's quite unlike anything else in the civil service. It's 24/7, people are living out of each other's pockets, it's like a family environment. It's much more informal than the rest of the civil service or virtually any other working environment."

Mr Salmond gave his version of the incident in Bute House when he suggested to a civil servant recreating the pose in a Jack Vettriano painting As Fond Kiss.

She had claimed resisting Mr Salmond has been like "wrestling with an octopus".

Mr Salmond said: " I think over the passage of time the incident has been misremembered.

"I took her hands and I did say 'Let's reenact the Christmas card. It was a joke, high jinks, a piece of fun. It was never meant to be anything else.

" She said 'Don't be daft' and we sat down."

Mr Salmond denies all charges against him. The trial continues.