Scottish footballers fined £100,000 in rape case

GLASGOW: Former Scotland striker David Goodwillie and an ex team-mate were ordered Tuesday to pay £100,000 ($123,157, 115,275 euros) after a civil court ruled they had raped a woman.

The fine was imposed despite Goodwillie and former Dundee United colleague David Robertson never having faced a criminal trial.

Goodwillie was accused of serious sexual assault against a woman in Armadale, a town between the major cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, in January 2011 but the charge was dropped in July that year.

Robertson was also questioned in connection with the same incident.

Goodwillie currently plays for southwest English side Plymouth Argyle and the fourth-tier club said they would not select him until they had considered the judgment.

The woman had originally sought £500,000 in compensation but damages of £100,000 were agreed at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

In his ruling, judge Iain Armstrong said: “Having carefully examined and scrutinised the whole evidence in the case, I find the evidence for the pursuer to be cogent, persuasive and compelling.

“In the result, therefore, I find that in the early hours of Sunday January 2, 2011, at the flat in Greig Crescent, Armadale, both defenders took advantage of the pursuer when she was vulnerable through an excessive intake of alcohol and, because her cognitive functioning and decision-making processes were so impaired, was incapable of giving meaningful consent; and that they each raped her.”

League Two club Plymouth responded by saying: “We note today’s judgment from the Court of Session in Edinburgh regarding David Goodwillie.

“We await the full report, which we will consider in detail before making any comment.

“Until such time, David Goodwillie will not be selected to play for Plymouth Argyle.”

Robertson currently plays for Scottish League Two side Cowdenbeath.