Police officer, 36, cleared of raping and assaulting woman and child

Police Scotland officer, 36, is cleared of raping and assaulting a woman and child under the age of 13

A Police Scotland officer accused of raping and assaulting a woman and child has been acquitted.

Martyn Coulter, 36, was today cleared of raping and assaulting a woman and raping, sexually assaulting and assaulting a child under the age of 13 between June 2013 and November 2014.

A jury of nine men and six women at the High Court in Edinburgh cleared him of all six charges following a trial.

During the seven-day trial, the court heard evidence about the alleged incidents.

But there were no concrete dates agreed on when the incidents were said to have taken place.

The High Court in Edinburgh, where Martyn Coulter has been acquitted of charges of raping and assaulting a woman and child today

Ian Duguid KC, representing Coulter, presented evidence to the trial showing Coulter’s whereabouts on September 23, 2013 – including Google maps, timelines, bank statements and social media posts.

The court was also shown records of Coulter’s army training records, which revealed he was on a training course between September 6 and 21 the same year.

A woman told the court on February 6 that she could not recall the exact date of the alleged offences, but said she went to Coulter’s flat at lunchtime on or around September 23, 2013, to celebrate the news that he was going on a tour of duty of Afghanistan with the Territorial Army.

She told the court he had wanted to have sex with her to celebrate, but she told him she did not want to because she did not have time. She alleged that he then raped her.

But the court heard that she appeared to have gone on a night out with Coulter that evening.

She also told the court she could not remember the night in question as it was 10 years ago.

The witness, however, insisted she could not remember being with him on the date in question.

Mr Duguid put it to the witness that Coulter had not received a letter that he would be deployed to Afghanistan in September, and had actually been told in November he would be sent for a maximum of 12 weeks due to being in the Territorial Army.

Coulter was suspended from Police Scotland as a result of the accusations.

The trial also earlier heard how he was ‘crying in shock’ after being arrested.

Upon hearing the verdict, an emotional Coulter put his head in his hands and cried with relief. 

Cries could also be heard from members of his family and friends who had gathered in the public gallery to support him throughout the trial. 

Judge Lady Drummond told him: ‘Mr Coulter, you have been acquitted of all charges and you are free to go.’

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