River City actor 'no angel' - but denies assaulting women

River City actor Iain Robertson has told jurors he is "no angel", but he denies attacks against four women, including claims of rape.

The 45-year-old was giving evidence at his trial at the High Court in Glasgow, where he denies a total of seven charges spanning between 2004 and 2020.

They includes the alleged rape of one of the women, as well as assault and breach of the peace.

Defence KC Gary Allan questioned Robertson - who played Stevie O'Hara in the BBC soap - about a series of accusations jurors had heard about earlier in the trial.

Allan first quizzed the actor about evidence from the first woman listed on the indictment.

This includes a claim – which is not a charge – that he had sex with the 48-year-old without consent during a get-together with others in the Lake District in September 2007.

The woman alleged Robertson forced himself on her in a bedroom after he had gone into a mood because she was playing a "silly" game with friends.

The actor said he had taken exception to what the others were doing as it involved a swear word the woman had previously "made clear" he could not say.

He had gone to bed before the woman later joined him.

She previously told the trial that Robertson had then tried kissing her before having sex despite her insisting she did not want to.

Allan asked Robertson: "Is your account the same as the woman?"

He replied: "Absolutely not."

The actor said it was the woman who initiated sex and that he was concerned others in the accommodation would hear them.

The KC asked Robertson: "Did she ever raise the subject of the time in the Lake District that 'you raped me'?"

He replied: "Never."

Robertson – who accepted having issues with alcohol - also denied claims he had once poured wine over the woman and her university course work.

He faces charges of assaulting and being threatening to another woman, who was a fellow actor at the time.

On being asked if there was swearing between them, Robertson said: "I do not pretend to be an angel."

He added: "There was swearing, yes."

This woman has claimed Robertson dragged her by the hair during an alleged assault in 2014, months after he had left her "cowering" in fear during an earlier incident at his Glasgow flat.

She stated she was left "scared, shaken and vulnerable" by Robertson.

The woman ended their relationship, but stated Robertson bombarded her with an "obsessive" amount of calls and texts.

She said Robertson - who has not worked since leaving River City in 2023 - also sent gifts to the theatres she was working at, including Graze snack boxes.

Jurors heard that after the earlier of the two alleged attacks, the woman awoke the next morning with a scratch at her nose.

Asked if he knew how that happened, Robertson stated: "I have no idea. I had feather pillows. They scratch me regularly.

"I did nothing here to cause the scratching."

Robertson accepted there had been "friction" before the other alleged assault after a plan to see the then latest Hobbit film was aborted, but denied he had been violent with the woman.

He also insisted he did not "harass" her or track her movements, claiming the Graze box subscription had been "set up" for the woman.

The defence KC went on to probe Robertson about claims he raped the third woman - who he knew from River City - between 2018 and 2019.

He told the jury he had consensual sex "on a number of occasions" with her.

Allan put to him: "Did you ever detect in her reaction to any of your sexual overtures that she did not want to engage in intercourse with you?"

Robertson: "Absolutely not. I am aware to know if the person is not as present as I am in what we are doing.

"I am sensitive enough to be aware there are non-verbal ways to communicate."

With regards the final woman, Robertson said there was "never a raised voice" between them.

He also rejected claims he had pushed her while in bed together on Hogmanay 2019 while at a hut he had in Carbeth, Stirlingshire.

Allan asked if he was aware of any reason why these women were making the allegations.

"I think anything I can offer would be speculation on my part," said Robertson.

Prosecutor John Keenan KC questioned him about the woman who he is charged with raping.

Keenan said she was described as being "limp and unresponsive" on each occasion.

Robertson said: "It would be something I would not participate in at all."

Regarding the latter incident, the actor said he had been "exhausted" and was up for filming early the next day, but that there had been consensual sexual activity.

He is expected to complete his testimony on Friday.

The trial, before Lady Drummond, continues.