Rapist Police Officer Campbell Petrie Jailed In High Court Glasgow 2026

Key Points:

• Former Police Scotland sergeant Campbell Petrie, 50, received a 15-year extended sentence, with 12 years in custody and three years under supervision.
• A jury found Petrie guilty of nine charges covering physical and sexual abuse against two women from 2006 to 2022, including the rape of a sleeping colleague.
• Prosecutors initially arrested Petrie in 2009 over alleged threatening behaviour towards one victim, but dropped the case due to lack of evidence.
• Police Scotland promoted Petrie to sergeant after the 2009 arrest, after which he carried on abusing both women for years.
• Specialist sexual crime officers opened a new inquiry in October 2023 following a rape report, resulting in Petrie’s arrest, suspension, and his retirement in 2025.
• The High Court in Glasgow issued non-harassment orders for both victims, while proceedings regarding Petrie’s police pension remain expected.

GLASGOW (Edinburgh Daily) October 16, 2026 — A disgraced former Police Scotland sergeant who preyed on a sleeping colleague has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after committing a catalogue of physical and sexual abuse spanning sixteen years.

Campbell Petrie, 50, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow where he was handed a total extended sentence of 15 years, comprising 12 years behind bars and three years of post-release supervision, following his conviction on nine charges involving two female victims.

Why Was Campbell Petrie Sentenced At The High Court In Glasgow?

As reported by Matthew Fulton and Victoria Pease of STV News, Petrie was found guilty after a trial detailing crimes carried out between 2006 and 2022. The court heard how the former officer subjected two women to sustained physical and sexual abuse over several years.

During the trial proceedings, evidence was presented showing that Petrie had subjected one victim to controlling behaviour, coercive weight monitoring, and physical assault. He also preyed upon a colleague while she was asleep, committing sexual violence against her despite his position as a serving officer.

As reported by Matthew Fulton and Victoria Pease of STV News, prosecutor Paul Harvey KC challenged Petrie during cross-examination regarding his actions towards the victim, noting that both women had separately described his predatory behaviour when he failed to get his way.

Petrie denied all charges during the trial, telling the court that he was “absolutely humiliated” by the allegations. In response to accusations of sexual assault against the sleeping victim, Petrie maintained his innocence during cross-examination.

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

How Did Police Fail To Stop Petrie Following His Initial 2009 Arrest?

As reported by Matthew Fulton and Victoria Pease of STV News, official records revealed that Petrie was first arrested and questioned by Police Scotland back in 2009 over allegations of threatening behaviour made by one of the victims. He was held in custody for approximately five hours before being released without charge when prosecutors dropped the case due to insufficient evidence.

Following that release in 2009, Petrie was promoted within Police Scotland to the rank of sergeant. He continued serving in the police force for over a decade while continuing his pattern of abuse against both women.

It was not until October 2023 that a formal complaint of rape was lodged, prompting specialist officers from Police Scotland’s sexual crime division to open an investigation. Petrie was arrested and suspended from duty in December 2023, before later choosing to retire from the force in 2025 ahead of his High Court trial.

As reported by Matthew Fulton and Victoria Pease of STV News, Judge Alastair Watson addressed the former officer directly during court proceedings to highlight the severity of his conduct, stating:

“The gravity of the crimes committed cannot be overstated.”

What Details Surfaced Regarding Petrie’s Controlling Behaviour And Abuse?

As reported by Matthew Fulton and Victoria Pease of STV News, testimony given during the trial outlined an extensive history of coercive control and physical intimidation. One victim told the jury how Petrie monitored her eating habits, checked household bins, and insisted she stand on weighing scales.

The court heard that Petrie attempted to isolate the woman from friends and family, strictly limited her access to social media, and became aggressive regarding her work interactions. Prosecutors described a “sinister” incident where Petrie stalked the victim, loitering outside a friend’s residence in the dark despite being instructed to stay away.

When confronted with accusations of domestic abuse and physical threats, Petrie maintained in court that his actions were executed with “affection” and denied using physical force or making threats to end the victim’s life.

Following the jury’s guilty verdict, Judge Alastair Watson remanded Petrie in custody prior to final sentencing, while also granting non-harassment orders to permanently restrict Petrie from contacting either victim.

Background Of The Case

The conviction of Campbell Petrie comes amid heightened scrutiny regarding internal discipline, vetting procedures, and officer oversight within Police Scotland and broader UK law enforcement bodies.

The disclosure that Petrie was previously detained by police officers in 2009—only for the case to be dropped and for Petrie to subsequently attain the rank of sergeant—has raised severe concerns regarding internal misconduct reporting and victim support mechanisms during that era.

Between 2006 and 2023, Petrie operated as an active police officer while committing serious criminal acts off duty and against a professional colleague.

The resumption of legal action in late 2023 followed updated protocols by specialist sexual crime units designed to re-examine historical allegations and domestic abuse complaints made against serving officers.

Following the sentencing outcome, legal authorities confirmed that steps are likely to be taken regarding the forfeiture or reduction of Petrie’s police pension entitlements.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Police Accountability And Victims

This judicial outcome is expected to significantly affect both Police Scotland and victims of domestic abuse involving law enforcement personnel.

For Police Scotland, the public disclosure that a convicted rapist was promoted to sergeant after a 2009 arrest will intensify institutional pressure from oversight bodies, politicians, and public advocacy groups to reform internal vetting and misconduct procedures.

For victims of domestic and sexual abuse, particularly those within or associated with police forces, the successful conviction and 15-year sentence may encourage greater confidence in reporting offences to specialist units.

However, the historic failures to act in 2009 highlight ongoing challenges regarding institutional trust. Consequently, police authorities will likely face mandatory policy reviews regarding how complaints against serving personnel are tracked, investigated, and escalated to prevent individuals under investigation from advancing in rank.