A Scottish independence campaigner has appeared in court charged with threatening a judge.

Stephen Crielly, 53, allegedly threatened Lord Turnbull, who ruled against his group's attempts to have a permanent camp stationed outside the Scottish Parliament.

His group allegedly composed a legal statement which called on Scots to "hunt down and execute" Lord Turnbull and the Queen.

Lord Turnbull ruled in favour of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body earlier this year to evict the campers.

They are fighting the decision in a case at the Court of Session.

Crielly, of Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, was a member of a group of campaigners called JAH, an apparent reference to the Rastafarian term for God.

They believe the independence camp and the declaration of an independent Scotland are necessary steps to ensure the second coming of Jesus Christ.

His group submitted an affidavit which was used during the case. The legal document was signed "Christ King of Scotland".

The statement is also said to have included claims the judges were "frauds and have no authority to judge anyone" and are "guilty of capital crimes and under the law should all be executed".

Crielly had earlier been sitting in the public benches of the Court of Session following an appeal hearing against Lord Turnbull's decision.

He appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday and made no plea or declaration to a charge of making criminal threats.

Crielly was granted bail on the condition that he does not attempt to contact Lord Turnbull or a named court official, or visit certain post offices.

The case was continued for further examination.