Rapist Christopher Harkins, who committed crimes in Inverclyde, jailed

Christopher Harkins, 37, described by police as “despicable”, targeted single women on dating websites, quickly befriended them and gained their trust.

He portrayed himself as a successful businessman before claiming he was having problems with his bank account being blocked.

He then asked some of his victims to lend him money for a short period of time.

Several women borrowed significant sums of money to help him.

Harkins, from Helensburgh, also persuaded several women to send him money for their holidays by sending them screenshots of their alleged travel destinations.

He persuaded them to cover half the costs, but never booked the trips and did not return most of the funds given to him.

On 16 January, he pleaded guilty to fraud charges at the High Court in Glasgow.

Following a trial at the High Court in Paisley in May, Harkins was found guilty of raping a former partner.

He was also found guilty of filming two women in intimate situations without their consent and then sending them the graphic content.

Harkins’ offences occurred between 2013 and 2019 in the areas of Inverclyde, Airdrie, Cumbernauld, Dumbarton, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley and Stirling.

Today he begins the long prison sentence he was given at the High Court in Kilmarnock.

Harkins’ name was placed on the sex offender registry indefinitely.

He was also given an indefinite restraining order, preventing him from making or attempting to contact ten victims.

Katrina Parkes, Crown Prosecutor for Sex Offences in Scotland, said: “Christopher Harkins clearly poses an extreme danger to women due to his calculating, manipulative and violent behaviour.

“His many victims have shown tremendous courage by coming forward and reporting him to the authorities.

“This conviction will hopefully provide some comfort to the women he targeted and protect others from his reprehensible schemes and depraved actions.

“This was a complex case and I thank the prosecution for their efforts in obtaining this conviction.

“We would like to encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of similar crimes to come forward and file a report.

“We will listen to you and use all the means at our disposal to achieve justice.”