Iain Robertson, known for playing Stevie O'Hara on the BBC soap opera River City, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. The 45-year-old actor from Carbeth, Stirlingshire, was convicted of five offences against three women between 2004 and 2019 following a trial last month. He denied all eight charges, which spanned from 2004 to 2020.
Sentence and legal consequences
Judge Lady Drummond handed down the sentence at Edinburgh High Court. Robertson appeared via video link from prison and showed no reaction. In addition to the prison term, he was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and made subject to indefinite non-harassment orders. He will also be supervised for three years after his release.
Details of the rape conviction
On the opening day of the trial, jurors heard pre-recorded testimony from the woman Robertson raped in 2018 and 2019. The two met while working together on River City and became friends. The 36-year-old woman stated she did not want anything sexual to happen. Although they became more intimate, she later had conversations with Robertson about returning to a platonic relationship, which she said he 'agreed' to. She described the conversation as 'a long back and forth' and noted that Robertson 'did not believe' her when she denied having feelings for him. She felt her 'boundaries were being ignored.'
The court heard that she was at his then home in Glasgow and planned to sleep on the sofa. Robertson allegedly told her she could join him in bed as 'nothing would happen.' However, the witness told prosecutor John Keenan KC that the actor 'had sex' with her instead. When asked if she was participating, she replied 'no' and said she did not want it to happen. Asked how Robertson would have known, she added: 'From the many conversations and my unresponsiveness.'
Impact and further details
Robertson's conviction and sentencing have drawn attention to the issue of sexual violence in the entertainment industry. The case highlights the importance of believing victims and the legal consequences for perpetrators. The indefinite registration and non-harassment orders aim to protect future potential victims.
