Police rapist appeal postponed

Adam Carruthers was a sergeant in Dumfries and Galloway

A former police inspector who was jailed for 12 years for rape has postponed the first stage of an appeal against his conviction.

A procedural hearing scheduled to be held at the High Court in Edinburgh was delayed after his legal team said they needed more time to prepare their case.

Adam Carruthers was jailed two years ago for raping and indecently assaulting two women while serving as a sergeant in Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway.

The father of two, who is now 40, is serving his sentence at Peterhead Prison.

Following his conviction a number of other women came forward with fresh allegations.

However, the Crown said there was not enough evidence to bring further charges.

Carruthers is now seeking to challenge his conviction.

It is understood that his case is based on grounds that one of his victims did not resist the attacks.

The assaults took place between 1993 and 1996, several of them while he was on police duty.