DARREN HENDERSON FROM HAWICK SENT SEXUAL MESSAGES USING FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE

A resident of Hawick, identified as Darren Henderson, has been involved in a disturbing case of online misconduct involving the use of a false social media profile to target two women. The incident, which took place over a span of several months, has raised serious concerns about online safety and the misuse of social media platforms.

According to court records, Henderson, aged 29 and residing on Teviot Road in Hawick, created a fake profile on a social media site. He used the name of a man known to the women he targeted, aiming to establish a sense of familiarity and trust. His initial approach appeared innocent, as the women accepted his friend requests, believing they were communicating with someone they knew.

However, the situation quickly took a troubling turn. As conversations progressed, Henderson began to send increasingly sexual messages. The women, unaware that they were communicating with Henderson and not the man he impersonated, found themselves subjected to unsolicited sexual remarks. One of the women was approached with an invitation to visit Henderson’s home for sex, which she recognized as inappropriate and subsequently blocked the account. She later realized that the profile was not genuine, prompting her to cease contact.

Further investigation revealed that Henderson had also targeted another woman in April 2022. Using the same false identity, he sent her a friend request on Snapchat. She recognized the name used and accepted the request, only to be met with a barrage of sexual messages shortly thereafter. Concerned by the nature of the messages, she also blocked the account. It was through this investigation that authorities identified Henderson as the individual behind both fake profiles and the inappropriate messages.

During the court proceedings at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, Henderson pleaded guilty to charges of communicating indecently with the women and making sexual remarks from his home. The court was informed that he had committed these acts in December 2021 and April 2022. Prosecutor Drew Long detailed the case, emphasizing that Henderson’s actions involved deception and exploitation of trust, which caused significant distress to the victims.

In sentencing, Henderson was handed an 18-month Community Payback Order, which includes supervision to monitor his conduct moving forward. Additionally, he was subjected to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act for a period of 18 months, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the need for ongoing oversight to prevent future misconduct.