Rapist police officer preyed on colleague while she was asleep

A rapist former police sergeant preyed on a colleague while she was asleep, it can be revealed.

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

Details of his crimes emerged at his trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Petrie – who was promoted to the rank of sergeant during the offences – had denied the accusations, claiming he had been left “absolutely humiliated”.

Jurors heard how he got to know the latter victim from both working in the police.

He described her as a “bit starry eyed” – but she was “pretty” and “out of his league”.

But, Petrie, of the city’s Muirend, discovered she was “interested” in him which he said was an “ego boost” adding he was “more flattered than anything else” given the age gap.

Jurors heard it was “all very pleasant” initially between them when they got together.

The woman told the court: “He did not like me working with men.”

Keep-fit fanatic Campbell started making weight jibes and tried to get the woman to stand on scales.

He was also said to have raked through bins to check what she had eaten.

The woman recalled that he warned he would harm her if she ever left him.

Petrie said: “I would certainly not make threats to kill anyone.”

He also tried to ban her from going on social media and made her lose contact with friends.

Among other incidents, which included physical assaults, was Petrie hounding her at a friend’s home despite being warned not to come near.

Prosecutors branded this incident “sinister” as he loitered at the back of the property in the dark.

Sexual allegations

Defence KC Edith Forrest quizzed him on sexual allegations made by this woman.

This included testimony that he raped her in the changing rooms of a leisure centre in Lanarkshire.

Petrie replied: “That never took place at all in the swimming baths, there or anywhere public.”

He previously took advantage of the woman at a flat in Glasgow’s Southside in 2011, having sex with her after she had been drinking and was unable to consent.

The other woman, who earlier suffered at his hands, accused Petrie of “lovebombing” her after they met in a queue in a Tesco supermarket in Glasgow’s Springburn while he was on shift.

He had “immediately found her quite attractive”.

She later came to see him at the city’s Baird Street station, and they remained in contact.

Despite all going well initially, the officer soon changed and started calling her names like “fat cow” and “s**t”.

The woman said: “He wanted me to be a skinny blonde.”

The court heard he lost his temper in a bar in the city’s West End and dragged her out, having earlier hit a man.

Ms Forrest put it to him: “She also went on to say how she woke up to find you (having sex with her). Did that happen?”

Petrie replied: “No.”

Ms Forrest said: “Her allegations – how do you feel about that?”

He replied: “I would never do that while someone was asleep. I find it absolutely sickening, devastating.”

Petrie also refuted claims he was overly physical with this victim, insisting anything he did was with “affection”.

He told jurors: “There was never any time she was forced to do anything. She was fully consenting.”

The trial heard evidence of a drunken Petrie being aggressive with the woman after a party.

He denied putting his hands around her throat.

Petrie was initially arrested around 2009 following allegations made by this woman.

Police colleagues turned up at his door, and he was held in a cell for up to five hours before eventually being released.

Ms Forrest asked: “How did you feel at that time as a serving officer?”

Petrie said: “Absolutely humiliated and confused. I had not done anything wrong.”

He remained in the force and was promoted before being arrested again in December 2022.

Petrie retired from Police Scotland in December 2025 and had latterly been working in a friend’s sports shop.

In cross-examination, prosecutor Paul Harvey KC initially put to Petrie that he preyed on the earlier woman while she was asleep.

The ex-officer denied this.

Mr Harvey said: “Who else said that you had sex with her while she was asleep?”

Petrie replied: “The other woman.”

The advocate depute said: “The truth is, both women we heard from told us that you had sex with them while they were asleep – there is a remarkable similarity in their accounts.”

Petrie replied: “Yes, it’s almost too convenient a similarity.”

In his closing speech, Mr Harvey urged jurors to convict Petrie.

The prosecutor said: “Each woman spoke to Petrie doing sexual things to them while asleep.

“Each of them is being pestered by Petrie, speaking about sexual offending against the background of a general long-term pattern of control and abuse.

“Each of them knew what he could be like if he did not get his way.”

After the verdicts, Judge Alistair Watson told Petrie that the “gravity of the crimes committed cannot be overstated”.

Petrie had been on bail, but was remanded in custody as sentencing was deferred until next month.

Police thank victims for coming forward

Detective Superintendent Adam Brown, Public Protection Unit said: “Violence against women and girls is an absolute priority for Police Scotland and we will relentlessly pursue the perpetrators of these crimes.

“Our thoughts are very much with the victims in this case and I commend their strength in reporting these crimes and bringing Campbell Petrie to justice.

“We understand how difficult it can be to report these kinds of offences, particularly when the perpetrator is a police officer. I want to reassure the public we will identify and investigate these officers whether they are serving or retired, or whether their crimes are committed on duty or, as in this instance, off duty.

“Petrie will now face the consequences of his actions and today’s outcome should serve as an illustration of our determination in those investigations and I hope that this outcome may bring some closure to those affected by this case.”