Highlands police officer raped two women and abused third

A serving police officer raped two women and subjected a third female to prolonged abuse.

Cameron Ross, 39, attacked his first two victims at different locations in the Stornoway area of the Isle of Lewis.

A woman assaulted by him in 2012, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the attack came after she met him at a party.

She told the High Court in Edinburgh how the policeman forced her to engage in sex with him.

“I didn’t say anything. I froze,” she said.

She told jurors that Ross had pinned her down to bed and tried to force her to have sex with him.

She said: “I couldn’t move at all. He moved his legs into a position where I was pinned down.

“His full weight was on me. I could hear my heart beating. I lost feeling.”

She told the court the attack had left her traumatised.

The court heard how Ross attacked a second woman on the Hebridean island in June 2014.

The police officer went on to subject a third woman to a course of abusive behaviour between October 2019 and June 2022 at addresses in Inverness.

During the abuse, he brandished a knife at her.

He shouted, swore and threatened to kill the victim, punched her on the face, sat on top of her and forced fingers into her mouth, gripped her throat and pressed down on the back of her neck, restricting her breathing.

Ross also attempted to pervert the course of justice by repeatedly trying to speak to a woman who was providing a witness statement to a police officer.

Ross had denied the charges during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh but was convicted of all of the offences by a jury.

Ross has no previous convictions.

Defence advocate Mark Stewart KC said: “The outcome of these proceedings will inevitably be a substantial custodial sentence.”

Mr Stewart made a motion for bail to be continued on Ross while a background report is prepared ahead of sentencing. He pointed out that Ross has been on bail for four years.

But the trial judge told Ross that she was not prepared to grant bail and he was remanded in custody.

Judge Alison Stirling told jurors that it had been “a difficult and anxious case” and said a counselling service was available, if needed.

Ross was placed on the sex offenders’ register. He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on July 2, 2026.

Once criminal proceedings have concluded, Police Scotland says its Professional Standards Department will begin proceedings for gross misconduct.

Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison said: “Ross’ actions go against everything Police Scotland stands for.

“Our thoughts are with the victims in this case and I hope this conviction provides them with some measure of closure. I commend their strength in reporting these crimes and bringing this individual to justice.

“We understand how difficult it can be to report these kinds of offences, particularly when the perpetrator is a police officer.

“We want the public to be reassured that all reports are thoroughly investigated, no matter when the offending took place or who is involved.

“All officers are bound by our Standards of Professional Behaviour, which apply on and off duty.

“Any instance where an officer fails to uphold our standards will be investigated and appropriate action taken.”