Bill Walker’s office bombarded the media with dozens of emails seeking positive publicity for the disgraced MSP’s work after he was charged with domestic abuse, it can now be revealed.
Some press releases issued during the trial included historic images of Walker with high-profile locals who were unaware that attempts were being made to use the pictures to promote the shamed politician.
In recent weeks the media was sent emails about Walker’s supposed association with successful businessmen, charity workers and even Commonwealth Games silver medallist Eilidh Child.
Many have reacted with surprise and shock that they were named in press releases issued by Walker’s office in the run-up to Thursday’s guilty verdicts on 23 counts of domestic abuse.
The 71-year-old, from Alloa, was convicted of attacking three former wives and a step daughter between 1967 and 1995.
Two days before he was charged, Walker’s office invited the press to print a photograph of him with 26-year-old track and field star Eilidh Child taken weeks earlier.
She said: “I didn’t actually realise. It’s not great. I’m just an athlete and I wasn’t aware of it.
“He was obviously trying to look good, with his trial going on and everything.
“It was taken at a very brief meeting at an awards night. He came up to me and asked if he could be photographed with me and congratulated me.”
In another email sent from his office two days before he was found guilty, Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker congratulated a local business which secured a government grant.
He said: “It’s great to see a local success story, and Cooper Software has been going from strength to strength recently.”
Frank Cooper, who founded the firm, said: “It’s absolutely outrageous. He hadn’t run it by us or sought our approval. He actually wanted to come and meet us and we were quite surprised.
“When we explained we’re moving buildings and no one was available to meet him, he suggested he open our new premises for us. It’s quite cheeky actually.
“We told him we’d wait and see what happens.”
Almost 100 press releases were issued in the weeks after Walker was arrested, many of them congratulating charities based in the MSP’s constituency.
Two emails included images of Furniture Plus senior manager Gail Jackson taken before the MSP was charged with domestic abuse.
She said: “I don’t speak for Furniture Plus but on a personal level, I didn’t like the man. He’s the biggest creep. He kept trying to cuddle me. He was too familiar.
“I’m glad he’s been found guilty. He should stand down immediately. I don’t think he can continue.”
The charity’s interim general manager Alison Brown added: “The previous manager organised the visit months ago. Bill Walker has no association with Furniture Plus, other than he came along for a visit.”
Bill Walker will be sentenced on September 20, but will only be disqualified as an MSP if he is jailed for more than a year.
The Courier contacted his office but no one was available for comment.