Adele Rennie: Former Nurse Jailed for Manipulative Stalking Campaign
Kilmarnock, 11 January 2026 – Adele Rennie, a 33-year-old former nurse from Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire, was sentenced to 28 months in prison in September 2024 for a series of manipulative stalking offences, including posing as a man on dating app Tinder to deceive and harass a victim. This marked her third conviction for similar crimes, highlighting a pattern of deception that began online and escalated into real-world distress.
The Catfishing Scheme
Rennie, who had previously been jailed in 2017 and 2019 for comparable offences, targeted a woman in August 2023 by creating a fake male profile as a pharmacist. After matching on Tinder and exchanging numbers, she used a voice-changing app to alter her voice during calls. The victim grew suspicious when Rennie cancelled a planned date and later received a voice note from a supposed “friend” named Cheryl urging her not to give up on the man. This was followed by explicit images, altered photographs of the victim’s workplace and home, and even a concert ticket sent via Ticketmaster. Police investigations revealed Rennie’s phone contained evidence linking her to the fake profiles and undeclared bank cards, breaching her sex offender notification requirements.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in July 2024, Rennie pleaded guilty to four charges: stalking, coercing someone to view a sexual image, and two breaches of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Sheriff Nicola Patrick described her actions as involving “significant degree of premeditation, deception and manipulation,” noting the profound impact on the victim. Rennie was jailed for 28 months, placed on a 12-month supervised release order, added to the sex offenders’ register for 10 years, and issued a sexual harm prevention order for five years. She was also banned from contacting the victim for five years. Procurator fiscal David Bernard stated that the conviction aimed to provide comfort to affected individuals.
Key Facts and Timeline
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Victim’s Initial Contact | August 2023: Matched on Tinder with fake male profile. |
| Escalation | September-October 2023: Sent explicit image, altered voice calls, photographs of victim’s locations, and concert ticket. |
| Police Investigation | November 2023: Home search uncovered evidence on mobile phone and bank cards. |
| Prior Convictions | Jailed in 2017 and 2019 for similar catfishing and stalking offences. |
| Sentencing | 13 September 2024: 28 months imprisonment, supervised release, sex offenders’ register, and prevention orders. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is catfishing?
Catfishing involves creating a fictitious online persona to deceive others, often for romantic manipulation, financial gain, or harassment. It is not currently a specific crime in UK law but can lead to charges under stalking or harassment statutes.
How did Rennie’s previous convictions relate to this case?
Rennie had been convicted twice before for similar deceptive tactics targeting women, demonstrating a recurring pattern of behaviour that escalated over time.
What impact did this have on the victim?
The victim experienced significant distress, as highlighted in her victim impact statement, leading to long-term emotional effects from the premeditated deception and manipulation.