FORMER RIVER CITY ACTOR JAILED FOR NINE YEARS FOR RAPE

Iain Robertson, who played Stevie O'Hara in the BBC soap River City, has been sentenced to nine years in prison following his conviction on five offences. Robertson was found guilty of rape, sexual assault and domestic abuse against three women between 2004 and 2019. He appeared via video link from Barlinnie prison as Lady Drummond, the judge, delivered her sentence at the High Court in Glasgow.

During the trial, witnesses described Robertson as "violent" and "controlling". The court heard that Robertson raped a woman between 2018 and 2019 after the pair met while working on River City. The woman stated she had asked Robertson to return their relationship to a platonic basis, but he insisted she could share his bed as "nothing would happen", before sexual activity took place. In another incident, Robertson became upset about the end of the sexual aspect of their relationship and kicked over a table, breaking a vase. The woman also described an earlier incident of sexual contact that she did not consent to and during which she "just waited for it to be over". Robertson was also convicted of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour against her.

Lady Drummond told Robertson that his behaviour had caused a "long lasting and life-changing" impact on his victims, who now experience anxiety, fear, flashbacks and difficulties with trust and personal safety. Robertson, from Carbeth in Stirlingshire, has been placed on the sex offenders' register and will remain under supervision for three years following his release from jail.