Democrat reporter
A River City actor is accused of rape and other sexual crimes and offences against four different women.
Iain Robertson faces a total of eight charges which span between January 2004 and April 2020.
The 44 year-old – who latterly played Stevie O’Hara in BBC soap River City, which is mainly filmed in Dumbarton – had his attendance excused for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.
The allegation of rape involving one of the women is said to have happened on “various occasions” in 2018 and 2019 at addresses in the city’s west end and southside.
Robertson faces a separate claim of also engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards her.
This includes accusations that he was “controlling” and did “psychologically manipulate her”.
Among other claims are that Robertson told others the woman was “mentally unstable”.
He also allegedly kicked household objects, grabbed her by the neck, pestered her by phone and text messages, sent her unwanted presents and tried to make her “fearful” of reporting him to the police.
These incidents are said to have occurred at a different property in Glasgow’s southside. Robertson is further accused of two charges of assault as well as threatening and abusive behaviour towards the next woman over a three-year period.
The Crown Proseution Service have listed a number of accusations including him trying to control where she went and isolating her from friends and family. He also allegedly persistently contacted her and sent unwanted gifts to her work.
The physical violence is said have involved Robertson injuring the woman by lunging at her causing her to fall onto a bed. He further allegedly dragged her by the hair into a room.
Gary Allan KC, defending, told the hearing that a special defence of consent has been lodged for one of the charges. Mr Allan said: “A joint minute of agreed evidence has been settled between parties and Mr Robertson pleads not guilty.”
Both the advocate and prosecutor John Keenan KC agreed that a trial could be set. Lord Arthurson fixed a trial which is scheduled to begin in June 2026 at the High Court in Glasgow.
The case could last six days. Robertson, of Carbeth, Stirlingshire, remains on bail meantime.