Police officer raped two women and abused a third

A police officer has been found guilty of raping two women and subjecting a third to a campaign of abuse.

Cameron Ross carried out attacks in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in 2012 and 2014, before abusing another woman in Inverness between 2019 and 2022.

Ross, 39, was suspended from Police Scotland in January 2024 after the allegations came to light.

He had denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Police Scotland said an investigation into gross misconduct by the force's professional standards department would take place following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

Judge Alison Stirling denied Ross bail and remanded him in custody.

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

The woman told the court how Ross "pinned her down to a bed" before carrying out the attack.

She said the incident had left her traumatised.

A second woman told the trial Ross had 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 Inverness.

In evidence, the court was told Ross threatened to kill the woman, repeatedly pushed and pulled her, threw her to the ground and brandished a knife at her.

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 an officer.

Ross was placed on the sex offenders register and will return to the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing on 2 July.

Chief Supt Helen Harrison said Ross's actions "went against everything Police Scotland stands for".

She added: "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."