Jackson QC sued by rape case man

Mr Jackson is an MSP and an advocate

Controversial lawyer and MSP Gordon Jackson is being sued by a man he defended in a rape case in 1998.

It is thought to be the first time an advocate has been sued in Scotland for the way a case was conducted.

Alexander Elliott won his appeal after he had already served part of his prison sentence.

One of the judges' reasons for overturning Mr Elliot's conviction was because of mistakes in the way Mr Jackson had conducted the case.

I still am not in the least bit apologetic about how I conducted the case Gordon Jackson QC MSP

The Labour MSP insisted he carried out the defence in the proper way.

He argued: "I certainly don't think the decision the Appeal Court made was right.

"I conducted a case in a certain way and I would do the same if I were conducting the case again tomorrow."

He added: "It's the nature of the business.

"It's becoming an occupational hazard, so of course I don't like it - but I still am not in the least bit apologetic about how I conducted the case."

Mr Jackson was criticised last December for taking a directorship at Kilmarnock Football Club.

Scottish National Party MSP Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Jackson of showing "contempt" for his constituents in Glasgow Govan by making another commitment outside Holyrood.

He was, at the time, the only MSP not to have spoken in a Holyrood debate since the May elections.

When elected as an MSP, Mr Jackson came under fire when he said he would be continuing his legal work.