Police Scotland officer jailed for 12 years after raping two women

He had denied all the allegations against him, despite being exposed as among four Police Scotland officers found guilty of unrelated, yet equally heinous sexual crimes – alongside Alan Greer, Cameron Ross, and John Williamson.

As the fourth serving or former Police Scotland officer unmasked as a rapist within just five months, their combined crimes exposed a deeply troubling pattern within the force.

Following his release, the former officer will face an additional three years of supervision and monitoring in the community, beyond being placed on the sex offenders register.

Judge Alistair Watson stated that the sentence reflected “the seriousness and persistence” of Petrie’s offending, noting that both victims continued to suffer lasting psychological harm.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs described Petrie’s crimes as “a series of severely abusive, exploitative and violent crimes towards women.”

The warning signs around Petrie first emerged in 2009, when one of his victims reported him for threatening behaviour.

Despite being detained at a police station for five hours, no further action was pursued due to insufficient evidence.

It was not until 2023, when a second woman came forward with a rape allegation, that specialist sexual crime officers launched a full investigation.

Petrie was arrested, charged and suspended in December of that year, before retiring from the force 12 months later.

Sentencing him, Judge Watson told Petrie he had read “the eloquent and moving descriptions provided by both of the women”, praising their “remarkable courage” throughout the court proceedings.

“It was obvious that they suffer enduring pain for what you did to them,” the judge said.

Petrie’s conviction has reignited concerns about the adequacy of background screening within Police Scotland.

A nationwide “historic data wash” conducted in 2023 – prompted by the cases of Met officers Wayne Couzens and David Carrick – failed to flag any previously unknown information about Petrie.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell disclosed earlier this month that 45 serving officers are presently suspended in connection with allegations of violence against women and girls.

New regulations introduced this year will require approximately 8,000 police officers and staff to undergo fresh vetting checks.

The process gives priority to long-serving personnel, and those whose roles bring them into close contact with vulnerable people.

ACC Mairs expressed hope that the sentence would offer Petrie’s victims some “closure and comfort.”

In May, Police Scotland officer Alan Greer killed himself days after police raided his home as part of a probe into offences stretching back to 2012.

Subsequent investigation revealed he was a violent serial sex offender who had targeted at least 15 victims.

Two months later, former constable Cameron Ross received a 10-year prison term for raping two women and abusing a third.

Then just yesterday, serving officer John Williamson was convicted of raping a teenage girl and a woman in Shetland, with his sentencing scheduled for December.