Man sentenced to 12 years in prison for serious sexual and violent offences

A 37-year-old man has today, Wednesday, 10 July, been sentenced at the High Court in Kilmarnock to 12 years imprisonment for serious sexual and violent offences.

He has also been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Christopher Harkins plead guilty to financial abuse offences on Tuesday, 16 January, 2024, and was found guilty of violent and sexual offences by a jury on Monday, 20 May, 2024.

His offences, which took place between 2013 and 2019, involved a number of women across Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde, Edinburgh, Stirling, Paisley and West Lothian.

A proactive investigation into Harkins commenced in October 2019 by Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Task Force.

Detective Chief Inspector Lyndsay Laird, 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 was convicted is a tremendous credit to the women who came forward to police.

“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 this result gives confidence to others who may experience anything similar to come forward, safe in the knowledge that police will investigate.”