Christopher Harkins convicted of sexual and violent offences

A 37-year-old man has been convicted of serious sexual and violent offences, including rape, at the High Court in Paisley today, Monday, 20 May, 2024.

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

He will be sentenced on Wednesday, 3 July, 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 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.”