Description
Carmichael John Williamson (known as John Williamson), 32, of Burra, Shetland, a serving Police Scotland constable, was found guilty of three counts of rape and one count of sexual activity with an underage girl.
A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh convicted him on 15 October 2026 of offences committed in Shetland between 2014 and 2022. He had denied all charges. Five of the original nine charges were dropped by the Crown before closing speeches.
Williamson was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a girl under 16 on various occasions between April and September 2014, after she contacted him on Snapchat. He was also convicted of raping her on one occasion between April 2014 and October 2015. In evidence, he claimed he only recalled having sex with her the day after her 16th birthday and denied any sexual activity when she was 15.
He was further convicted of raping an adult woman in August 2020 and again in April 2022 (on two occasions the same evening: outside a community hall during a wedding function he attended, and later at a house). The woman told the court she was intoxicated, incapable of consenting, and did not feel “truly in control of her actions.” She also said Williamson “slapped” her during the later incident.
Judge John Morris KC described the trial as “anxious and distressing.” After the verdict, Williamson was remanded in custody. He cried in the dock, was handcuffed, and said “I love you” to his partner as he was led away. He has been placed on the sex offenders’ register. Sentencing is scheduled for 8 December 2026, pending reports.
Williamson had been a police constable for more than 10 years (previously a special constable) and was suspended by Police Scotland on 10 January 2024 after the allegations were reported. The earliest offences occurred while he was a special constable; later ones while he was a serving officer.
Detective Superintendent Stevie Bertram of Police Scotland’s Public Protection Unit said:
“Williamson will now face the consequences of his actions and today’s outcome should highlight our determination to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators in these investigations.”