THE private prosecution of disgraced footie ace David Goodwillie is closer to going ahead after he pleaded for the rape case to be tried in court.
Former Scotland international Goodwillie, 36, was found to have raped Denise Clair at a property in Armadale, West Lothian, in January 2011 by a civil court in 2017 after prosecutors refused to hit him with criminal charges.
But after a 14-year battle, the Criminal Bill for Letters seeking a private prosecution against the shamed striker was formally lodged late on Friday, the Sunday Post reports.
The move, which could put Goodwillie behind bars, will go down in Scottish legal history as the first in Scotland for over 150 years if it goes ahead.
Goodwillie himself has pleaded for the evidence to be heard in an effort to “clear” his name, insisting he wants “the truth to come out.”
Speaking on a podcast, he said: “I don’t want to be known as a rapist. That is why I want to fight and clear my name.”
READ MORE ON THE SCOTTISH SUN
BLADE MANIAC
Woman, 21, was stabbed after being followed by stranger in Scots city centre
ISLE DO IT
Couple hunted by firm on stunning Scots island for rare job with own cottage
His appeal is one of the reasons victim Denise Clair is citing to argue her case meets the threshold of “exceptionality”.
If the case is deemed to meet this standard, three senior judges will determine whether a private prosecution should go ahead.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, who dropped the rape charge against the former Dundee United player but are not expected to oppose the prosecution, said: “This is currently under consideration and the Crown’s position will be made clear to the court when appropriate.
“We considered all relevant information before deciding not to proceed with a prosecution.
“We understand that decision continues to cause Denise Clair great upset.”
Prosecutors also said they would “continue to appropriately share available information that may assist with the application for a private prosecution”.
Top KC Thomas Ross, who has agreed to take on the case for Denise, says the private prosecution could get the green light as early as next year if three judges give it the go-ahead.
He said: “We believe it was a mistake that this case was not prosecuted at the time.
“Given their past handling of this case, we do not expect the Crown to state that they will now prosecute, and we do not expect they will object to us doing so.
“The Crown gave their reasons for not prosecuting back then as an insufficiency of evidence, but we do not agree.
“There is an abundance of evidence, and we believe it is very much in the public interest for a jury to hear it and for them to make a decision in this case.
“This case is also exceptional because David Goodwillie has publicly asked for the case to be heard. We anticipate that he will welcome the opportunity to do so in court.”
Denise, 39, a Scottish Prison Service education adviser, said: “It is now almost 15 years since rapist predators David Goodwillie and his friend David Robertson targeted me in a premeditated attack after I bumped into them in Bathgate at New Year in 2011.
“They behaved like depraved animals. They lied to concerned nightclub stewards who wanted to call an ambulance because I was almost comatose, persuading them they would take me home safely to my mother.
“Instead, they took to me an empty house in Armadale which they had gotten keys for, they raped me then left me alone, naked and locked in.
“Tests showed I had such a high level of alcohol in my system I could have died.
“New laws had just been brought in to ensure the prosecution of predators who targeted women who were unable to give consent because they were incapacitated through either alcohol or drugs.
“I believe the evidence showed I fitted every criterion. That is why I refused to give up this fight for justice.”
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay, who previously said “this case stinks!” in parliament, backed the latest move and said: “Denise Clair has waited almost 15 years for a chance of justice. There must be no more delays.”
Read more on the Scottish Sun
ROHL WITH IT
Rohl becomes Rangers frontrunner and will appoint ex-Gers star if he gets job
BOOZY CLAIMS
Senior worker ‘twerked’ in front of Compston & ‘made Rod Stewart’s wife upset’
Several football clubs that have signed David Goodwillie since he was found to have carried out the vile attack including Clyde and Raith Rovers have been heavily criticised.
Goodwillie signed for Glasgow United in 2023 in a controversial move which saw the club threatened with eviction from their council-owned stadium.
