Kilmarnock woman jailed for catfishing and stalking
33-year-old Adele Rennie pretended to be a man in what has been described as 'sophisticated stalking'
A woman who used a voice-changing application to sound like a man during a stalking campaign has been jailed for two years and four months.
Adele Rennie, from Kilmarnock, pretended to be a male pharmacist when she matched with her victim on the dating platform Tinder in August 2023.
They exchanged mobile phone numbers with the 33-year-old later arranging to have flowers delivered to the victim’s home address.
The woman then arranged to go on a date with the man from the fake profile.
On August 21, 2023, Rennie cancelled the meeting last minute which resulted in the victim believing that the Tinder account was a ‘catfish profile’.
On August 27, the victim received a voice note from a woman who called herself ‘Cheryl’, claiming to be a friend of the man and asking her “not to give up on him”.
She then received calls from the man which she believed sounded like the voice had been altered.
Unwanted photographs
On September 5, the victim received an unwanted explicit image from Rennie, who stated that she did not mean anything by it and was unable to delete it.
On September 12, she received a message from Rennie which contained a photograph taken outside the complainer’s work.
On October 8, Rennie sent her victim a screenshot of Google Maps which showed someone outside her home.
She then received a photograph of her street that had been taken through a car window.
On October 13, the victim was sent a ticket for a gig in London by Rennie but did not want to go.
Rennie then asked her to send the ticket on via Ticketmaster to an email address.
The woman was then shown pictures from the concert by a witness showing Rennie in attendance there.
She then contacted police who searched Rennie’s home on November 14, 2023.
A mobile phone was examined which revealed an email address with the name of the man and searches for the victim in the internet history.
The police also found a photograph matching the fake male profile and recovered several bank cards, which had not been declared in accordance with Rennie’s sex offender notification requirement.
28 months imprisonment
Rennie appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on July 30 where she admitted four charges.
On September 13, Rennie was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment and made subject to a 12-month Supervised Release Order at the same court.
She was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years.
A non-harassment order, banning Rennie from approaching, contacting, or attempting to approach or contact her victim for a period of five years was granted.
She was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a period of five years.
'Sophisticated stalking campaign'
David Bernard, Procurator Fiscal for North Strathclyde, said: “Adele Rennie carried out a sophisticated stalking campaign despite being subject to strict notification requirements as a registered sex offender.
“We recognise that the trauma suffered by victims of stalking can be profound and distressing.
“We hope this conviction brings some comfort to those affected by Rennie’s concerning and manipulative behaviour.
“I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of such offending to come forward, report it and seek support.
“You will be listened to, and we will use all the tools at our disposal to seek justice.”