SH0CK: BBC Star Jailed for R@pe and Assault Leaves Viewers Shocked.
Actor Iain Robertson sentenced to nine years in prison
Actor Iain Robertson has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of raping one woman and assaulting others. The 45-year-old, who played Stevie O’Hara in the BBC Scotland soap, was found guilty last month of a total of five offences against three women between 2004 and 2019. He raped one of the women some time between 2018 and 2019 and sexually assaulted her on a separate occasion.
One of the women told the High Court in Glasgow that Robertson had sex with her despite her making clear she was not consenting. During the trial, she described going “limp” while he was on top of her. Robertson denied the allegation and maintained the encounter had been consensual.
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Actor Iain Robertson outside the High Court in Glasgow in June, where he was found guilty of rape (Image: Nick Forbes/PA Wire)
The court also heard he poured a bottle of wine over one woman’s head, manipulated victims psychologically, falsely told one woman’s friends that she was mentally unstable, let himself into her home without her knowledge or consent, sent unwanted gifts and threatened to self-harm.
At Edinburgh High Court on Thursday, Lady Drummond sentenced Robertson to nine years in prison and imposed an additional three-year supervision period. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and made subject to indefinite non-harassment orders.
The judge told the former actor his offending had involved “violence, coercion, intimidation, and sexual abuse”. She told him: “None of this was isolated behaviour. It formed part of a pattern of conduct carried out by you to exert power and control over these women and to make them fearful and distressed.”
She told him rape and sexual assault are “violations of a person’s bodily integrity”, and that the effects can be “long-lasting and life-changing”.
She continued: “The complainers describe in their victim impact statements, vividly, the lasting psychological harm of your not only sexual offending but domestic offending on them, they suffer anxiety, fear, flashbacks, and difficulties with trust.
“The impact has affected their relationships, their confidence, and their sense of safety.”
She acknowledged Robertson’s history of “alcohol misuse” and adverse childhood experiences, but said given the seriousness of his offending only a custodial sentence would be appropriate.
She said: “I consider the sentence I am about to impose to be no more severe than is necessary to protect the public, to punish you for your offending, to mark the court’s condemnation of your conduct, to recognise the harm caused to the victims, and provide an opportunity for your rehabilitation.”
Iain Robertson was sentenced today (Image: Police Scotland/PA Wire)
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Robertson, a former BAFTA winner, attended the sentencing via video link from prison wearing a blue top and showed no reaction as the sentence was handed down.
Procurator Fiscal Faye Cook said: “Iain 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.
“Prosecutors from COPFS were able to show his criminal behaviour carried on over a period of many years and involved a number of women.
“We are grateful that these women were ready to speak out. It is through their testimony that Robertson was brought to justice.
“To anyone experiencing similar offending, please come forward and report it. COPFS will do all that we can to hold abusers to account while supporting those affected.”
