Inverness police officer accused of rape and abuse of women
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A police officer will stand trial accused of raping two woman and abusing a third.
Cameron Ross (37), of Appin Drive, Inverness allegedly attacked the pair at separate properties in Stornoway between August 2012 and June 2014.
Court papers state Ross kissed the first woman, touched her on the body and then raped her.
It is claimed that Ross sat on the second woman, restrained her then raped her.
Ross is then stated to have carried out a course of abuse against the third woman between October 2019 and June 2022 at properties in Inverness.
It is stated that he repeatedly pushed and pulled her before seizing her by the body as well as her hair.
The woman is said to have been thrown to the ground and her arm twisted back to her injury.
Ross is claimed to have repeatedly shouted, swore and threatened to kill her.
Another allegation says Ross repeatedly brandished a knife at her, placed a knife in her hands and incite her to stab him.
It is stated Ross attempted to pull her down a set of stairs when she was pregnant.
He is claimed to have shut her foot in a door, forced her to the ground, placed his hands around her neck and compressed which restricted her breathing to her injury.
Ross is further stated to have pushed her against a fence.
Another allegation says he seized her by the body, punched her on the face, sat on top of her, forced his fingers down her mouth then pressed down on the back of her neck which restricted her breathing and kicked her on the body to her injury,
Ross is also said to have repeatedly took her house and car keys from her and lock her out the house.
He is further stated to have controlled her access to money and contacted healthcare professionals without her knowledge or permission.
Ross is additionally accused of taking her mobile phone, deleting evidence including pictures and audio recordings as well as send messages from her phone while pretending to be her.
A separate charge says Ross behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and acting in an aggressive manner at his home in Inverness on June 5, 2022.
A final charge alleges Ross attempted to pervert the course of justice at the same time and place.
Allegations include Ross intimidating the woman by shouting her name while she gave a witness statement to a police officer.
He is claimed to have demanded to know what she was saying, implored her to think of her children and family as well as threaten to make complaints against the police officers or otherwise damage their careers.
The charge says this was all an attempt to influence the investigation against him.
Ross pled not guilty today at the High Court in Glasgow to all five charges.
Mark Stewart KC, defending, lodged a special defence of consent in relation to the first woman.
Mr Stewart added that there are further areas of inquiry to be carried out.
He said: "Given the fact that a trial date has been identified for later this year, the propositions won't prejudice that proposed date.
"My submission is we are ready for trial and a trial date can be fixed."
Prosecutor Angela Gray stated that a trial date in December has been identified with a further preliminary hearing taking place in May.
Judge Lady Stacey continued the matter until then and set a six-day trial for the High Court in Edinburgh.
