ALEX Salmond has lodged special defences of consent and alibi in relation to five of the fourteen sexual offence charges he faces, the opening day of his trial has heard.

A jury of nine women and six men heard the former First Minister’s defence against one charge of indecent assault and two of sexual assault was that he reasonably believed the women "to be consenting throughout".

The three charges involve alleged incidents with three different women at his official Bute House residence in Edinburgh between October 2010 and December 2013.  Mr Salmond has also lodged a special defence of consent against an allegation he sexually assaulted one of the women with intent to rape at Bute House in December 2013.

In addition, Mr Salmond has lodged a special defence of alibi against an allegation he sexually assaulted a woman at Bute House in May 2014.

The jury heard a list of Mr Salmond’s locations on various days throughout that month.  The jury heard around 10 minutes of evidence from a woman complainer in relation to two charges on the indictment - one allegation of sexual assault and one of attempted rape - before adjoruning for lunch.  The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence from behind a screen while the public was cleared from Court 3 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Mr Salmond, 65, faces 14 charges, all of which he denies.

The former SNP leader is accused of one count of attempted rape, one of sexual assault with intent to rape, ten other counts of sexual assault, and two counts of indecent assault.  Nine of the charges relate to alleged incidents at Bute House.

Mr Salmond arrived at court accompanied by his sister and supporter Isobel Zambonini shortly before 830am, briefly smiling and saying ‘Good morning’ to the ranks of photographers.

More than 30 members of the media had to be accommodated in an overflow room inside the court precincts.

Before the first witness was called, judge Lady Dorrian described Mr Salmond as a “well known political figure” and asked the jury whether they had any strong feelings, either of support or animosity, towards him which would stop them acting in an “unbiased” manner.

She stressed they had to reach a verdict solely on the basis of the evidence in court and they should “cast aside entirely” any political feelings.

She also warned them not to access any material about Mr Salmond or the trial on social media “in the interests of justice” during the proceedings.

Mr Salmond was First Minister from May 2007 until November 2014, when he resigned following the No result in the independence referendum.

His defence team is led by Gordon Jackson QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.

The prosecution is led by advocate depute Alex Prentice QC.

The charges span a period between June 29 2008 and November 11 2014, with one sexual assault said to have taken place in the month of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.

The indictment alleges Salmond attempted to rape a woman at the first minister’s official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh, in June 2014.

It is said he placed her legs over his, repeatedly kissed her face and neck, groped her and then blocked her path.

Salmond is then alleged to have pinned her against a wall, pulled at her clothes and stripped himself naked before trying to rape her on a bed.

The former MP is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman with intent to rape in December 2013.

He is alleged to have forced a woman to lie on his bed at Bute House and then pulled up her dress with intent to rape her.

The first charge listed accuses Salmond of indecently assaulting a woman by kissing her mouth and groping her on various occasions around Glasgow between June 29 2008 and July 24 2008.

It is also alleged he sexually assaulted a woman on various occasions between May 2011 and June 2013 at the Scottish Parliament, Bute House and elsewhere by touching her bottom and stroking other parts of her body.

Salmond – who was Scotland’s first minister from 2007 to 2014 – is also accused of sexual assault by allegedly taking off a woman’s shoe and trying to kiss her foot in October 2013.

He is further accused of grabbing a woman by her shoulders at Bute House, repeatedly kissing her face, trying to kiss her lips and touching her leg and face in September 2014, the month of the Scottish independence referendum.

Several charges involved the accused allegedly groping women, including one incident at a restaurant in Glasgow in March 2012.

Salmond’s trial, which is expected to last for four weeks, continues.