Ex-nurse who posed as man to stalk Tinder match is jailed

Adele Rennie stalked a woman while posing as a male pharmacist

A former nurse has been jailed for her third catfishing scam, in which she posed as a man to harass a woman online.

Adele Rennie, 33, stalked the woman while posing as a male pharmacist after matching with her on the dating app Tinder in August 2023.

In July, at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, she pled guilty to four charges, including causing fear and alarm.

She was sentenced to two years and four months in jail and was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

She was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

This means her internet and social media use is controlled and the number of devices she has will be restricted. Rennie will also have to inform her supervising officer if she is in a relationship.

Adele Rennie admitted causing the victim fear and alarm

Rennie was previously jailed in 2017 for posing as a man to trick women into sending her naked pictures, and again in 2019 after she posed as a wealthy lawyer.

The court heard how Rennie exchanged mobile numbers with her latest victim after matching with her on Tinder.

Rennie contacted the victim through text messages, emails and calls using a voice-changing application that made her sound like a man.

She sent the woman pictures of her home and workplace, which alarmed her and made her feel like she was being followed.

Rennie admitted sending her gifts, obtaining her personal information and carrying out internet searches for her.

She also admitted to sending the same woman a picture of male genitalia.

Police Scotland were alerted to concerns that Rennie was re-offending and searched her home in November.

After finding a phone with the email address and pictures linked to the fake dating profile, she was charged by officers.

David Bernard, procurator fiscal for north Strathclyde, said that Rennie had carried out a "sophisticated" stalking campaign despite being subject to strict notification requirements as a registered sex offender.

He said: “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."

He encouraged anyone who has been the victim of such offending to come forward and assured they would be listened to.

Sheriff Nicola Patrick said Rennie’s deliberate premeditated deception was designed to distress her victim who had been profoundly affected.

The sheriff also imposed a period of one year’s supervision on Rennie’s release in order to protect the public.

'No hiding place'

Rennie first pled guilty to pretending to be a man to lure women into romantic relationships in 2017.

At the time she worked as a nurse at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, and targeted women through dating sites and social media.

One victim was the granddaughter of a patient in the hospital.

The court heard how Rennie lured some women into sending intimate pictures which she used to threaten them if they cut contact.

She was put on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Months after she left prison for her first conviction, Rennie was jailed for a similar offence in 2019.

During this case, the court heard how she had used a voice-changing app to maintain the ruse.

Police Scotland said that Rennie's actions involved a "calculated attempt to deceive and manipulate" her victim.

Det Insp Stephen McGrath, of Kilmarnock CID, said: "This sentencing demonstrates that there is no hiding place and such offences will not go unchecked.

“The victim in this case showed great strength in coming forward, helping prevent further harm."