Former River City actor Iain Robertson jailed for nine years for rape

Former River City actor Iain Robertson has been jailed for nine years for raping a woman and assaulting two others.

The 45-year-old, who played Stevie O'Hara in the BBC soap, was convicted of five offences, including domestic abuse, against the women between 2004 and 2019.

During his trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Robertson was referred to by witnesses as "violent" and "controlling".

Lady Drummond told Robertson, who appeared via video link from Barlinnie prison, that his behaviour had a "long lasting and life-changing" impact on his victims.

The judge said they now suffered from anxiety, fear and flashbacks and had problems with trust and a sense of safety.

The trial heard how Robertson, of Carbeth in Stirlingshire, raped a woman on one occasion between 2018 and 2019 as well as a separate sex assault.

The pair came to know each other from working together on River City.

The woman said she did not want anything sexual to happen, but believed Robertson did.

The relationship became intimate, but the woman later told Robertson she wanted their relationship to go back to being platonic.

She said one evening she was at his home in Glasgow's Tradeston and planned to sleep on the sofa, but Robertson allegedly told her she could join him in bed as "nothing would happen".

However, the witness said that the actor instead "had sex" with her.

She did not say anything to Robertson at the time, but said she did not participate in what happened and she did not want it to happen.

She also described an earlier incident when Robertson carried out a sex act on her and she "just waited for it to be over".

He was also found guilty of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour against her.

Prosecutors presented evidence of another sexual incident involving a second woman to corroborate the rape charge.

Robertson was accused of forced himself on the woman during in the Lake District in September 2007.

Jurors did not have to deliver a verdict on this, but he was convicted of assault by pouring wine over her head and her university course work.

The court heard that Robertson was also violent with a third female - a fellow actor.

The woman described how Robertson hounded her with an "obsessive" amount of calls and voicemails, and sent gifts to theatres where she was performing.

He was found guilty of threatening and abusive behaviour towards her.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service praised the women who spoke out against Robertson.

"It is through their testimony that Robertson was brought to justice," said Procurator Fiscal Faye Cook.

"Robertson held a high-profile position through his career but in private he assaulted and abused females who trusted him.

"This has caused lasting damage to the lives of people who thought they were safe around him."

Robertson was put on the sex offenders' register and will be supervised for a further three years upon his release from jail.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "We are appalled by these crimes and our thoughts are with the victims in this case."