Iain Robertson, River City Actor, Faces Eight Rape Charges Spanning 16 Years

Iain Robertson, the actor who played Stevie O'Hara in BBC's River City, has begun trial on eight rape charges spanning from 2004 to 2020, with allegations involving four women. The 45-year-old denies all charges. On the opening day at Glasgow's High Court, jurors heard pre-recorded testimony from one accuser describing how Robertson allegedly ignored her stated boundaries and engaged in non-consensual sexual contact.

Testimony and Allegations

The woman, now 36, testified that she and Robertson had worked together on River City before becoming friends. She stated she made clear she did not want sexual contact to occur, yet believed Robertson pursued it regardless. The court heard their relationship became more intimate over time, but the woman later sought to return to a platonic dynamic.

When asked how Robertson responded to her requests to scale back the relationship, she said he initially agreed. However, she characterised the subsequent period as a prolonged disagreement, explaining: "Iain was convinced I was in denial about having feelings for him and in denial about what I wanted." The woman stated this pattern meant her "boundaries were being ignored."

Incidents and Escalation

The court heard details of an alleged incident at Robertson's former home in Glasgow's Tradeston. The woman said she had planned to sleep on the sofa, but Robertson told her she could share his bed as "nothing would happen." She testified he instead initiated sexual contact without her participation or consent. Describing the moment, she said: "I was lying down, I was very limp and he went on top of me," and could not explain how he came to be positioned over her, stating it happened "out of the blue."

A second alleged incident occurred at the woman's flat in Glasgow's west end. She claimed Robertson became upset about the end of the sexual aspect of their relationship and kicked over a table, breaking a vase. Robertson reportedly suggested attending relationship counselling together. The woman said she agreed only because she did not want "the violence to escalate."

Robertson, from Carbeth in Stirlingshire, denies all charges. The trial continues at Glasgow High Court.