ROBI MACBAIN: DUNDEE CHILD ABUSER AND FRAUDSTER SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENSES AND CHILD CRUELTY
In March 2025, Robi Macbain, a man with a disturbing history of child abuse and deception, was sentenced in Dundee to a five-year period of registration on the sex offenders register, following a series of heinous crimes involving manipulation, fraud, and cruelty.Macbain, aged 35, a former soldier with a criminal record that includes child abuse, orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to deceive multiple women.
He assumed the identity of an English man, creating a fake Facebook and Tinder profile under the name ‘Craig Thomson,’ purportedly a tall, bearded ex-marine from Broughty Ferry working in security.
Victims believed they were engaging with a genuine individual from Suffolk, unaware that they had been talking to Macbain himself for weeks and even months.
The deception was part of a broader pattern of manipulative behavior.
Macbain exploited the trust of these women, exchanging intimate images and messages.
One woman, in particular, matched with ‘Craig Thomson’ on Tinder, where he claimed to be passionate about charity work and helping victims of domestic abuse.
Their conversations transitioned to Facebook, where hundreds of messages were exchanged, culminating in the sharing of explicit images.
Macbain’s actions caused significant psychological harm, as acknowledged by Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith, who emphasized the damaging impact of exchanging intimate images.
In addition to the online deception, Macbain was convicted of physically abusing children over a four-year period.
The Dundee Sheriff Court heard harrowing details of his cruelty, including forcing two children to stand against a wall while holding two-litre bottles of juice, a form of punishment he used repeatedly.
Macbain admitted to hitting the children during what he described as “boxing” with them, with one child being subjected to multiple assaults over the years.
His violent acts included compressing a child’s eye with his fingers, kicking them in the body, slapping their face and groin, and pushing another child to the ground, causing them to fall backwards.
He also struck one child on the leg with a belt.
The court was told that Macbain’s abuse extended to physically punishing the children by making them lie on the floor with bottles of juice, and even cutting up one of their favorite toys as a form of discipline.
Social workers and police intervened after concerns were raised, with one child explicitly mentioning fears related to Macbain’s abusive behavior.
The court heard that Macbain’s actions were part of a pattern of conduct from March 29, 2017, to November 7, 2021.
During the sentencing, the court acknowledged Macbain’s mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he claimed resulted from his active service in the Army.
His defense argued that he did not fully grasp the impact of his actions on the children and expressed remorse, suggesting potential for rehabilitation.
Nevertheless, the court emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, noting the psychological harm caused by the exchange of intimate images and the physical abuse inflicted on vulnerable children.
Macbain was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid community service and was placed under a restriction of liberty order, requiring him to remain indoors from 7 pm to 7 am for four months.
He is also subject to supervision for 12 months, with restrictions on internet access and contact with minors under 18.
A non-harassment order was issued to prevent him from approaching or communicating with his three victims.
In summary, Robi Macbain’s conviction highlights a disturbing combination of online deception, sexual misconduct, and child cruelty, leading to a significant legal sentence and ongoing monitoring to prevent further harm.
