Goodwillie leaves Argyle after rape court case

Footballer David Goodwillie has left Plymouth Argyle to "focus on a potential appeal" after a civil court ruled he and a former teammate raped a woman.

The former Scotland international and his ex-Dundee United teammate David Robertson have been ordered to pay £100,000 damages to Denise Clair after a judge in a civil case ruled they raped her in Armadale, West Lothian, in January 2011.

The men have never faced a criminal trial but Ms Clair, who previously waived her right to anonymity, took civil action after she was left "devastated, upset and confused" when told the men would not be prosecuted.

Goodwillie, 27, had been accused of serious sexual assault but the charge was dropped. Robertson was also questioned in connection with the incident, and earlier this week it was announced by Cowdenbeath that the 30-year-old has now retired from professional football.

Goodwillie signed for Plymouth Argyle last year but has now left the club.In his ruling at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Lord Armstrong said thathaving "carefully examined and scrutinised" the case, he found the evidence for Ms Clair, the pursuer, was "cogent, persuasive and compelling".

Ms Clair told the Sunday Post she had refused an out-of-court settlement and feels "vindicated" by the ruling. She had originally sought £500,000 in compensation but damages of £100,000 were agreed in the case.

The 30-year-old mother told the Sunday Post: "There was a pre-trial meeting of the advocates in Edinburgh on September 21.

"An increased offer on behalf of both men of £115,000, including expenses, was made. Again, I refused.

"Lord Armstrong awarded me £100,000 - less than the players wanted to buy me off with - and most of it will be swallowed up by legal costs. I don't mind though. All that matters is that I am vindicated.

"I wanted the truth to emerge and no amount of money would have bought my silence or made up for the suffering I, and my family, endured."