Cabbie cleared of all allegations

A former councillor and taxi driver accused of a string of sexual offences has been cleared of all charges at Stornoway Sheriff Court.

Complaints had been made by four women in relation to the conduct of Donald John MacRae, 47, who served as a councillor for the Harris and South Lochs ward on Western Isles Council from 2012 to 2017.

However, after a two-day hearing, Sheriff David Sutherland yesterday upheld a submission that there was no case to answer due to insufficiency of evidence.

Two of the complainants alleged that when Mr MacRae was driving them home after a night out in Stornoway he sexually assaulted them – one by touching her chest and another by trying to have sex with her in a toilet.

A third complainer said when Mr MacRae was driving home last year he gave her “quite a slap” on the thigh and engaged in “very inappropriate” sexual conversation. She said she came forward after hearing he faced other charges.

Mr MacRae’s solicitor Jennifer Pritchard argued there may be “a number of defences in terms of alibi” they have been unable to explore due to the last-minute change in the wording of the charges. She also said the complainers were “not credible or reliable”.

Ms Pritchard said that

“Defences in terms of alibi... and complainers not credible”

in order for a conviction to be imposed in relation to the slap, the crown needed to demonstrate “intent”.

She said that as the contact occurred during “general chitchat”, this was not the case.

A fourth complainer did not appear in court.

Mr MacRae’s taxi licence was suspended by the council after the charges were initially made.