Police officer who raped two women launches bid to have conviction overturned

A police officer who was jailed for raping and sexually abusing two women has launched a legal bid to have his conviction overturned.

Campbell Petrie, 50, was convicted of a total of nine charges involving a catalogue of physical and sexual abuse towards two women spanning between 2006 and 2022.

Petrie had denied the accusations, claiming he had been left “absolutely humiliated”.

He was handed a 15-year sentence at the High Court in Glasgow in October, with 12 years in custody and three years of extended supervision.

Non-harassment orders were made for both victims by Judge Alastair Watson, who stated Petrie’s actions had caused “deep and enduring psychological harm” for the two women.

He told Petrie: “It was obvious at trial that each still suffers the enduring pain of what has occurred.

“I hope that the resolution of these proceedings today may close a chapter in their lives and allow each of them to move on in the process of recovery.”

The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service has confirmed that Petrie has lodged an intimation of intention to appeal against his conviction and sentence.

A note of appeal is due to be submitted to the courts by December 22.

During sentencing, Judge Watson said Petrie’s claims that he was not aware his victims felt they had been assaulted were “bizarre”, adding: “Your continuing denial of responsibility for your behaviour is disappointing.”

After Petrie had been found guilty, it emerged he had first been arrested in 2009 over allegations of threatening behaviour towards one of his victims, but the case was dropped.

Petrie was then promoted to the rank of sergeant following his arrest, yet continued his offending.

It wasn’t until October 2023, when a complaint of rape was made against him, that an investigation was launched by specialist sexual crime officers.

Two months later, he was arrested, charged and suspended from the force in December 2023. Petrie later retired from Police Scotland in 2025, months before his trial.

Victim raped in leisure centre changing rooms

During his trial at the High Court in Glasgow, jurors heard how Petrie met one victim as they both worked in the police, describing her as “pretty” and “out of his league”.

Petrie went on to make weight jibes at the woman, raking through bins to check what she had eaten and threatening to harm her if she left him.

He went on to rape her in a changing room at a leisure centre in Lanarkshire. He also raped her after she had been drinking at a flat in Glasgow and was unable to give consent.

He met his second victim in a Tesco supermarket queue in Glasgow’s Springburn while he was on shift.

The woman accused him of “lovebombing” her after this meeting, and soon made jibes at her, calling her “fat cow” and “s**t”.

The woman later woke to find Petrie raping her.

The trial also heard evidence of a drunken Petrie being aggressive with the woman after a party, putting his hands around her throat.

‘Victims will be listened to’

Assistant chief constable Tim Mairs said Petrie was “severely abusive” towards his victims and praised the women for coming forward.

He said: “Petrie committed a series of severely abusive, exploitative and violent crimes towards women. His offending is in stark contrast to the professionalism and commitment of the officers who investigated him, and ultimately helped bring him to justice.

“His victims have displayed great courage in reporting these matters, and our thoughts are very much with them today. I hope this sentence brings them some closure and comfort.

“This investigation shows the public that when matters of this nature are reported to us, regardless of who the perpetrator is, victims will be listened to and supported as we take immediate action to identify, investigate and bring to justice those responsible.”