Ex-Scotland ace David Goodwillie says he’s ‘devastated’ by judge’s ruling he’s a rapist… and is ready to appeal
The former Dundee United star - who along with David Robertson was told to pay £100k damages to Denise Clair - spent 'every penny I have fighting allegations'
SHAMED footie star David Goodwillie has pleaded his innocence after a judge ruled he was a rapist in a damning verdict - and revealed he was considering an appeal.
The ex-Scotland striker, 27, said he was “devastated” by Lord Armstrong’s decision that he attacked Denise Clair, 30, when she blacked out following a boozy night out.
He spoke out after Lord Armstrong ordered Goodwillie and pal David Robertson, 30, to pay her £100,000 damages following a civil case at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
The judge also slammed the former Dundee United teammate's evidence as selfish and unreliable.
He said in a statement: “I have spent the last six years and every penny I have fighting the allegations against me.
"I hoped that the opinion of Lord Armstrong would allow me finally to draw a line under this and move on with my life.
"I am devastated by his opinion.
"Over two days in the witness box I spoke honestly and truthfully and gave a detailed account (including under cross examination) about everything that happened on the evening of 1 January and early morning of 2 January 2011.
"I am struggling to understand why the judge has discounted my evidence and all of the other evidence of those who have said what they saw or heard that morning.
"I am currently taking advice on what options are open to me regarding lodging an appeal.
"As a 21 year old I acted immaturely, naively and probably not as respectfully or with the same consideration towards someone I was with as I could have, and if that was the case I apologise for that.
"However, everything that happened that night happened consensually. I would not and did not take advantage of Denise Clair and I did not rape her because she was too drunk to consent."
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We told how Denise, 30, originally sued the pair for £500,000 claiming they raped her at a flat in Armadale, WEst Lothian, following a night out in nearby Bathgate on January 2 2011.
The court heard she decided to take action after being left "devastated" by a Crown decision not to prosecute Goodwillie - who now plays for Plymouth Argyle - and Robertson, who is on the books of Cowdenbeath.
In his ruling, Lord Armstrong said: "Having carefully examined and scrutinised the whole evidence in the case, I find the evidence of the pursuer (the woman) to be cogent, persuasive and compelling.
“In the result, therefore, I find that in the early hours of Sunday January 2 2011, at the flat in Greig Crescent, Armadale, both defenders (the footballers) took advantage of the pursuer when she was vulnerable through an excessive intake of alcohol and, because her cognitive functioning and decision making processes were so impaired, was incapable of giving meaningful consent; and that they each raped her.”
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