Ex-SNP councillor ‘falsely said he was sexually assaulted’

Michael Cullen, who is now an independent Glasgow councillor, is said to have made the false claim in March 2017.

A former SNP councillor will stand trial next year charged with falsely claiming to police he had been sexually assaulted.

Michael Cullen, who now independently represents Glasgow’s Garscadden and Scotstounhill ward, is said to have made the false claim in March 2017.

Prosecutors allege he “falsely represented” to three police officers that he had been sexually assaulted in October 2014.

The charge states Cullen claimed he had been the “victim of sexual assault” and caused officers to devote time and services at the public expense to an investigation.

It further claims Cullen knew the claim was false.

Cullen faces a second charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He is said to have claimed that he was impacted mentally and financially by the alleged sexual assault in a review application.

The charges goes on to state this was an attempt to have the Crown reconsider the allegation after a decision was made not to prosecute.

On Tuesday, Cullen, of the city’s Knightswood, pleaded not guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

A trial was set for January next year by Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC who bailed Cullen in the meantime.

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