A twisted catfish conman who duped four Dundee women into sending nude videos and images has been sentenced to register as a sex offender for five years.
Robi MacBain – a former soldier and convicted child abuser – stole an English man’s identity to create a bogus Facebook and Tinder persona.
His victims believed they were talking to a man named ‘Craig Thomson’ – a tall, bearded, ex-marine from Broughty Ferry who worked in security.
They actually spent weeks and months talking to MacBain, who assumed the identity of a married dad from Suffolk.
The 35-year-old previously pled guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court to stalking and fraud charges committed between January and April 2022.
Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith said: “Given the fact intimate images were exchanged, there will no doubt be psychological harm.
“I am entirely satisfied notwithstanding your previous and lack of significant criminal record that you have crossed the custody threshold.”
In August 2024, MacBain was ordered to perform 300 hours of unpaid work for subjecting children to extreme and cruel punishments over a four-year period.
The 35-year-old has completed 110 hours of unpaid work from that order and recently finished a four-month restriction of liberty order.
‘Craig from Broughty Ferry’
The court previously heard how the first woman matched on Tinder with ‘Craig Thomson’ who claimed he was passionate about charity work and “aiding victims of domestic abuse”.
Conversation moved to Facebook, where “hundreds” of messages were exchanged before intimate images were shared.
Fiscal depute Carrie-Anne Mackenzie revealed how the woman asked for a mobile number to speak on WhatsApp but he repeatedly made excuses, including saying his ex-girlfriend used to make fun of his voice.
Mrs Mackenzie said: “The person she believed to be Craig Thomson had a digital life story in which he had a son, he lived in Broughty Ferry, he worked for a security company and was an ex-Marine.
“They communicated in a flirtatious manner before becoming more intimate, with nude images and other similar photos being exchanged.
“This online relationship continued in this manner for a couple of months.”
It was revealed one of the women sent a fully nude image in the bath with her face visible with flirtatious messages also exchanged.
Mrs Mackenzie said the woman felt reassured MacBain was genuine after disclosing she had previously been the victim of domestic abuse.
Hapless photo crop
The web of lies eventually unravelled when hapless MacBain failed to properly crop one of the images, which contained the profile name of the person whose identity he had stolen.
MacBain apologised and said he done it because “someone had wronged him”.
Solicitor Anika Jethwa said her client committed the offences after splitting up with his partner and was struggling with depression and anxiety.
Suspicious over his military service claims, Sheriff Niven-Smith made MacBain recite the Latin motto of the Black Watch regiment “nemo me impune lacessit“, which translates to “no-one provokes me with impunity”.
Ms Jethwa said: “He has sought assistance from the Veterans Trust and Hope Point.
“He has been candid and said he is extremely depressed again in relation to these proceedings and the potential consequences.
“Clearly his behaviour was extremely wrong and bad and he can see that.”
Sheriff Niven-Smith said a jail term would not properly punish MacBain because he was prosecuted at summary level.
MacBain was ordered to perform 187 hours of unpaid work and placed on a restriction of liberty order (7pm until 7am) for 136 days.
He must comply with supervision for two years and conduct requirements restricting his internet access.
The sheriff also placed MacBain on the sex offenders register for five years.
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