Cameron Ross, 39, a former Police Scotland officer, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping two women and subjecting a third to a sustained campaign of domestic abuse. The offences occurred between 2012 and 2022 in Inverness and on the Isle of Lewis.
Details of the Offences
Ross was an active officer at the time of the crimes. He was suspended in June 2022 when a report was received and later resigned from the force. Prosecutors described his actions as “sustained offending” that caused significant harm. He was convicted of five charges, including two counts of rape and one of attempting to pervert the course of justice, at the High Court in Edinburgh in May.
Impact and Response
Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison, head of professional standards at Police Scotland, stated: “Cameron Ross has been convicted for repeatedly abusing and sexually abusing women. We've worked closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to achieve this outcome. If he had remained, we would have progressed gross misconduct proceedings and he would have been dismissed as his actions and behaviour will not be tolerated in Police Scotland. I want to thank those who came forward and recognise how difficult that can be when the perpetrator is a police officer.”
Faye Cook, the procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, added: “Cameron Ross carried out deliberate and repeated acts of abuse against women over the course of a decade. This was sustained offending, which caused significant harm. As a police officer, he was in a position of trust. Instead of upholding the law, he chose to break it in a serious and persistent way. I would urge anyone affected by similar offending to come forward and report it. The Crown is committed to prosecuting those responsible for sexual and domestic abuse, regardless of who they are.”
Sentencing
Ross, whose address was listed as Inverness, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday. He had been a serving officer when the report was received in June 2022, leading to his immediate suspension. He has since resigned from Police Scotland.
