Actor Iain Robertson allegedly had sex with a woman without her consent during a holiday in the Lake District, a court has heard.
Allegations and Charges
The former River City star is also said to have physically assaulted the woman on various occasions. The 45-year-old is further charged with raping another woman on various occasions between 2018 and 2019, as well as offences involving two other women. Robertson denies a total of seven charges between 2004 and 2020. He had originally faced an eighth charge relating to one of the women, but this was withdrawn by the prosecution on Wednesday.
Witness Testimony
Giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, one of the women said she had been on holiday in the Lake District with friends when Robertson reacted badly to her playing a silly game with them. The 48-year-old said the game involved suggesting film titles with one word replaced with a rude word. She said: 'I was sitting with the door on my left hand side and I saw him appear in the corridor, and standing there looking disgusted and angry. He made a motion, mouthed at me to get out.' She said they then went to the bedroom, telling the court: 'I was just exhausted and a bit flummoxed by the whole thing, and he was still angry.'
The woman said some time afterwards they went to bed, where he had sex with her without her consent. The alleged rape does not form part of the charges against Robertson due to it having allegedly taken place outside Scotland. Describing the alleged incident, the woman said: 'He started kissing me and trying to initiate sex. I said no and I was very upset, I just wanted to get to sleep because of what had happened previously.' She added she had said no at least once, and said stop as well.
Prosecutor John Keenan KC asked her how he had reacted to her saying no. 'He just ignored me and carried on kissing and trying to have sex,' she said. She added: 'I remember not wanting it and I remember saying I don't want it.' Asked how the alleged assault made her feel, she said: 'Upset and angry and confused, just exhausted by the whole thing.' She added: 'This has stuck with me internally and emotionally since that time.'
The court heard she did not report the incident when first approached by officers in October 2023 as part of a proactive investigation into Robertson's alleged wrongdoing, and then only did so in a follow-up meeting.
Defence Cross-Examination
Robertson's lawyer Gary Allan KC put it to her that had his client really raped her she would have reported it on that first occasion. She replied: 'It's got a lot more to do with shame and regret, and emotional trauma.' Mr Allan also put it to her there had been sex but she had been the one to initiate it, as she had wanted to get close to him in some way following the argument. 'You were at the very least consenting to the intercourse, you actually initiated it,' he suggested. 'You removed your clothing and sat astride him, and in that position penetration took place.' She rejected this, saying she was clear about what had happened. Mr Allan also put it to her that not once did you say no or stop. She again rejected this.
Further Evidence
The trial also heard evidence from another complainant, who said things had initially been good before Robertson changed. Asked to describe this, the woman said: 'His behaviour started to be more distant, more erratic, like it didn't make sense, some of the things he did.' The 39-year-old also said he talked to her about wanting to try a threesome, which made her uncomfortable. She said when he raised it she would say 'please don't do it again, you know how I feel about this' – but he mentioned it more than once.
The woman also recounted an incident at a cabin near Stirling when she alleges Robertson assaulted her. She said they had an argument and he accused her of doing something to make him feel bad. When she went to bed, she felt really cold and tried to get closer to him, but he physically pushed her away a couple of times before turning over and going to sleep. Giving evidence by videolink, she indicated her right hand side when describing where he had pushed her, saying: 'I wasn't expecting that from him.'
The trial, before Lady Drummond, continues.
