Former Police Scotland officer who raped two women and violently abused a third jailed

A former police officer who raped two women and subjected a third to a campaign of abuse has been jailed for 10 years.

Cameron Ross, 39, carried out his serious sexual assaults in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in 2012 and 2014. He then abused his third victim in Inverness between 2019 and 2022.

His crimes included rape, domestic abuse, attempting to pervert the course of justice and threatening or abusive behaviour.

Ross was suspended from Police Scotland when the allegations first came to light in June 2022 and resigned last month following his conviction in May after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Judge Alison Stirling said custody was the only appropriate disposal due to the "serious nature" of the offending.

The judge told the court on Thursday that Ross continues to deny any wrongdoing and has the support of his family and partner, adding: "I note from the criminal justice social work report that you do not accept your convictions and that you intend to appeal."

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said prosecutors were able to show how Ross "engaged in a pattern of sexual and physical abuse against women".

During the trial, jurors heard how Ross raped the first woman after they met at a party between August and October 2012.

The woman told the court how Ross "pinned her down" on a bed before carrying out the attack, testifying: "I didn't say anything. I froze."

She said the incident had left her traumatised.

A second woman told of how Ross sat on her and restrained her before raping her in June 2014.

He went on to subject a third woman to a course of abusive behaviour between October 2019 and June 2022.

In evidence, the court was told Ross repeatedly pushed and pulled her, seized her by the body and hair, threw her to the ground and twisted her arm behind her back.

He additionally brandished a knife at her.

Ross also shouted, swore and threatened to kill the victim, punched her in 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 was also convicted of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on 5 June 2022 at an address in Inverness, where he shouted, swore and acted aggressively.

He later attempted to pervert the course of justice on that date by trying to speak to a woman who was providing a witness statement to a police officer.

The judge said Ross was promoted to sergeant within the force as a dog handler and "earned a good salary".

Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison, head of professional standards at Police Scotland, said: "Ross was a serving officer at the time of these offences and when the report was received in June 2022, we immediately suspended him.

"He has since resigned from the service. If he had remained, we would have progressed gross misconduct proceedings and he would have been dismissed as his actions and behaviour will not be tolerated in Police Scotland.

"I want to thank those who came forward and recognise how difficult that can be when the perpetrator is a police officer."

Ross was convicted of five charges. As well as the 10-year jail term, he has also been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Faye Cook, procurator fiscal for high court sexual offences at COPFS, said: "Cameron Ross carried out deliberate and repeated acts of abuse against women over the course of a decade.

"This was sustained offending, which caused significant harm.

"As a police officer, he was in a position of trust. Instead of upholding the law, he chose to break it in a serious and persistent way.

"I would urge anyone affected by similar offending to come forward and report it.

"The Crown is committed to prosecuting those responsible for sexual and domestic abuse, regardless of who they are."

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