River City star Iain Robertson tells court he was 'no angel', but denies raping woman

River City actor Iain Robertson has told jurors he was “no angel” – but denied crimes against four women.

Robertson gave evidence at his trial at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.

The 45-year-old – who appeared in BBC soap River City – faces a total of seven charges spanning between 2004 and 2020.

This includes the rape of one of the females.

Defence KC Gary Allan took Robertson through the accusations the trial earlier heard about.

He first quizzed the actor – who won a Bafta for his performance as Lex in film Small Faces when he was a teenager – about 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.

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

Mr Allan asked Robertson: “Is your account the same as the woman?”

He replied: “Absolutely not.”

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

Mr Allan asked: “Are you telling the truth about it?”

He said: “Yes, truly.”

The KC asked: “Did she ever raise the subject of the time in the Lake District that ‘you raped me’?”

Robertson said: “Never.”

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

He faces charges of assaulting and being threatening to the next female, 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. I am partial to the odd ‘f*** off’. There was swearing, yes.”

This woman claimed she was dragged 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.

The 40-year-old stated she was left “scared, shaken and vulnerable” by Robertson.

She ended their relationship, but stated Roberston bombarded her with an “obsessive” amount of calls and texts.

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 how 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.

“All I can say is there have been times when I have walked into the bathroom, looked in the mirror and went ‘och…’

“I did nothing here to cause the scratching.”

Robertson accepted there had been “friction” before the other alleged assault after a plan to go 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.

Defence KC Mr Allan went on to probe Robertson about claims he raped the third woman – a 36 year-old he knew from River City – between 2018 and 2019.

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

Mr 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 him and the 39 year-old.

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

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

Roberston: “I think anything I can offer would be speculation on my part.”

In cross-examination, prosecutor John Keenan KC put to him that if his evidence was true, then claims by the women were “works of fiction”.

In connection with the Lake District incident, Mr Keenan said Robertson was “poles apart” from what this female alleged.

The advocate depute said: “You raped her in the way described?”

Robertson replied: “No. I did not, sir.”

Mr Keenan questioned him about the woman with whom he faces a rape charge.

The prosecutor said the female described 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.

Robertson is expected to complete his testimony on Friday.

The trial, before Lady Drummond, continues.