Conviction and Sentence
Iain Robertson, 45, who played Stevie O'Hara in the BBC soap River City, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for raping a woman and assaulting two others. He was convicted of five offences against three women between 2004 and 2019, including domestic abuse.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6]
During his trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Robertson was described by witnesses as 'violent' and 'controlling'. He denied all eight charges, telling the court he was 'no angel' but maintained the sexual encounters were consensual. He was convicted last month. Judge Lady Drummond handed down a 12-year extended sentence, with nine years in prison and three years on licence. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and made subject to non-harassment orders. He appeared via video link from Barlinnie prison and showed no reaction.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5]
Lady Drummond described Robertson's behaviour as having a 'long lasting and life-changing' impact on his victims, who now suffer from anxiety, fear, flashbacks and problems with trust and safety.[S1]
Details of the Crimes
The rape occurred between 2018 and 2019. The victim, who worked with Robertson on River City, testified that despite initially being friends, she wanted to return to a platonic relationship. One evening at his home in Glasgow's Tradeston, she planned to sleep on the sofa, but Robertson allegedly told her to join him in bed as 'nothing would happen'. Instead, he had sex with her. She said she did not participate and went 'limp'.[S1][S5]
The woman said she felt her 'boundaries were being ignored' and that Robertson did not believe her when she denied having feelings for him. She described the conversation as 'a long back and forth'. She had conversations with him about returning to a platonic relationship, which he agreed to.[S5]
She also described an earlier incident where Robertson carried out a sex act on her and she 'just waited for it to be over'. Robertson was found guilty of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour against her, including false claims that she was mentally unstable to her friends, letting himself into her home, sending unwanted gifts, and threatening to self-harm.[S1][S3][S4]
Prosecutors used evidence of a second sexual incident in the Lake District in September 2007 to corroborate the rape charge. Although jurors did not have to deliver a verdict on that, Robertson was convicted of assault by pouring wine over the woman's head and her university coursework. He was also found guilty of threatening and abusive behaviour towards a third woman, a fellow actor, whom he hounded with obsessive calls and gifts sent to theatres where she performed.[S1][S2][S3]
Impact and Response
Procurator Fiscal Faye Cook praised the women, stating: 'It is through their testimony that Robertson was brought to justice.' She added that Robertson held a high-profile position but in private 'assaulted and abused females who trusted him'. 'This has caused lasting damage to the lives of people who thought they were safe around him,' Cook said. She urged others experiencing similar offending to come forward. Prosecutors from COPFS were able to show his criminal behaviour carried on over a period of many years and involved a number of women.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'We are appalled by these crimes and our thoughts are with the victims in this case.' Robertson will be supervised for a further three years upon his release from jail.[S1][S2]
