POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED OF RAPE IN DUNFERMLINE
A newlywed policeman named William Crawford was accused of raping a woman in his home in Dunfermline just a week after his marriage to Rona.The court heard that Crawford allegedly had sex with the woman, referred to only as CJ, while his wife was sleeping in the next room.
CJ reportedly woke up to find Crawford engaging in sex with her.
Despite there being no prosecution due to insufficient evidence, Crawford was dismissed from the Fife police force after officials concluded he had committed the rape.
Crawford successfully challenged his dismissal and was initially reinstated, but this decision was later challenged in the Court of Session.
The judge, Lord Uist, ordered a new appeal hearing, as the previous tribunal had erred in law.
The case involved a police misconduct hearing where it was concluded that Crawford's actions were unsolicited and against her will, with CJ stating she had told him to get off and pushed him away.
The incident was said to have taken place in February 2001, with CJ spending the night at Crawford's house.
Medical examinations of the woman were inconclusive regarding the assault, and Crawford denied the rape, asserting he was not in the woman's room.
Though not prosecuted for the rape, Crawford faced 12 other charges of assault, breach of the peace, attempted rape, and attempting to pervert the course of justice, which were eventually dismissed in court.
The police investigation also revealed some breaches of confidentiality during CJ's interview process.
