Violent Glasgow dating app scammer scammed and abused women during six-year reign of terror

A Glasgow rapist has been convicted of multiple sexual and violent offences against women he met on dating apps over a period of six years.

Christopher Harkins, 37, pleaded guilty to financial abuse on Tuesday, January 16, and has now been found guilty by a jury of violent and sexual offenses. He will be sentenced on Wednesday, July 3.

Harkins was previously found to have defrauded a financial professional he met on a dating app, who subsequently shelled out more than £16,000.

His offences, which took place between 2013 and 2019, affected a number of women in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, Edinburgh, Stirling, Paisley and West Lothian. An investigation into Harkins was launched by Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Task Force in October 2019.

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Detective Inspector Iain Renfrew of Police Scotland said: “Christopher Harkins is a violent and despicable individual who targeted women seeking love and companionship. He led them to believe they were in a loving and exclusive relationship, but that was nowhere near the truth.”

“His only motive was money. Harkins met the woman on a dating app and after developing a relationship with her, he resorted to manipulation, threats, coercive control and violence to obtain thousands of pounds to fund his very lavish lifestyle.

“The fact that he was convicted is a great credit to the women who came forward to the police. Their statements are the reason why he was convicted today.

“This case shows that domestic violence is not just physical or sexual violence, but also includes abusive behaviour or financial abuse. It is often about power and control and can have life-changing consequences for victims.

“We sincerely hope that today’s conviction will give others who may experience similar things the confidence to come forward, safe in the knowledge that the police will investigate.”

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