A WOMAN has told a jury that trying to stop Alex Salmond from indecently assaulting her was like "wrestling with an octopus".

The civil servant in the Scottish Government said the former first minister grabbed her in Bute House following a discussion about an "inappropriate" Christmas card, featuring an image of a man and woman about to kiss.

"He immediately just said, 'let's create the pose on the Christmas card'," the complainer, known as Woman B, told the High Court in Edinburgh.

"He grabbed my wrists and pulled me towards him, and I was just shocked," she continued. "I used my hands to try to get him off."

The woman said she did not succeed, adding: "It felt like every time I managed to get a hand off another hand would appear. He was very persistent and it felt like I was wrestling with an octopus. I felt like there was always another hand."

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Woman B said she said or did nothing to give the impression she wanted it to happen and did not consent.

"I felt quite alarmed, I wanted it to stop," she said. "I didn't say anything. I was trying to get his hands off me, but I couldn't get my voice."

She told the jury the alleged assault ended when a colleague came to the door.

Woman B said she spoke to her line manager about the incident but added: "I didn't think there was really an option to take things further at that time within the Scottish Government because of the relationship between the civil service and the first minister.

"I felt that if I had complained formally, then I would be the problem and I would be moved, and I had worked really hard."