Violent Glasgow dating app swindler conned and assaulted women in six-year reign of terror

Laura Ferguson

21 May 2024 at 3:11 am·2-min read

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

Harkins was previously found to have conned a financial professional to fork out more than £16,000 after meeting her on a dating app.

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

Detective Inspector Iain Renfrew, Police Scotland said: “Christopher Harkins is a violent and contemptable individual who preyed on woman looking for love and companionship. He made them 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 through a dating app and once he had formed relationships with them he turned to manipulation, threats, coercive control and violence to obtain thousands of pounds which he used to fund his very lavish lifestyle.

“The fact that he had been convicted is a tremendous credit to the women who came forward to police. Their testimony is why he has been convicted today.

“This case highlights that domestic abuse is not just physical or sexual, it includes abusive behaviours 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 gives confidence to others who may experience anything similar to come forward, safe in the knowledge that police will investigate.”

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