Actor Iain Robertson Accused of Hair-Dragging Assault
River City actor Iain Robertson has been accused of dragging his former partner by the hair during an alleged assault at his flat in Glasgow.
Amiera Darwish, also an actor, told the court that Robertson threatened her on two occasions over several months in 2014, including one incident where she was left "cowering" in fear.
She ended their relationship but said the 45-year-old repeatedly contacted her with an "obsessive" number of calls, texts, and gifts.
Robertson, known for playing Stevie O'Hara in the BBC soap, denies eight charges involving four women from 2004 to 2020, including a rape charge.
Darwish, 40, told the High Court in Glasgow she first met Robertson through a director they both knew around late 2012, when she was about to graduate from drama school. They became friends before starting a relationship that lasted until 2015.
'Controlling and Manipulative' Behaviour
Darwish said their relationship involved spending time together in Glasgow and London, where she had secured an acting job.
She described Robertson, from Carbeth, Stirlingshire, as initially "charming" but said his behaviour became "emotionally controlling and manipulative," escalating to "threats and then physical violence."
She recounted an assault at his Glasgow home in late 2014 following an argument.
"I ended up on the floor - I do not know how I got there. He dragged me by the hair from the bedroom into the hall.
I was trying to make it stop. It was painful. I was trying to stop my hair being pulled. Once in the hall, he let go - I stood up and said: 'We are finished, we are over'."
Darwish called her mother, who Robertson allegedly tried to push when she arrived.
The trial also heard that Robertson grabbed and damaged a treasured clock belonging to Darwish.
Darwish described an earlier 2014 incident, the day before a photoshoot for acting work, when Robertson "lunged" at her during an argument.
"Something happened where I was cowering because I thought he was going to hit me.
I had my hands and arms over my head. I do not remember if he struck me or not."
She said Robertson swore at her and threatened to hit her.
She later woke to find a scratch on her nose.
"He had been behaving aggressively, like posturing forwards into my space.
He was angry about something. It was really horrible. He was almost like 'I will teach you a lesson...if you behave this way, I will do this'."
Darwish told prosecutor John Keenan KC she felt shaken, scared, vulnerable, and belittled.
"Instead of going into the photoshoot empowered, I felt small or like mousey."
Intense Contact After Breakup
Darwish said the relationship ended in early 2015.
While rehearsing an acting job in London, she claimed Robertson became jealous of her socialising with cast members after rehearsals.
She broke up with him by phone and switched her phone off.
Upon turning it back on, she found 90 missed calls, including a six-minute voicemail.
She also alleged Robertson tracked which theatres she was performing in.
He sent flowers to the press night of her show and Graze snack boxes, which she told the court she did not want.
Darwish described Robertson as a heavy drinker, at one point calling him a "violent alcoholic."
Testimony from Another Alleged Victim
The trial also heard testimony from another woman who alleges she was raped by Robertson.
The two met while working on River City.
During pre-recorded evidence, Robertson's then KC Paul Nelson asked if Robertson had spoken to her in 2019 about struggling with their relationship and if she was aware he had discussed them with fellow River City actor Stephen Purdon, who plays Bob O'Hara.
The woman responded, "I do not think so."
Nelson concluded by stating Robertson did not rape or sexually assault her.
She replied, "That is incorrect."
The trial, presided over by Lady Drummond, is ongoing.
