Premier League and Championship stars scammed into sending bare footage by twisted man
A Scottish sex offender scammed Premier League and Championship footballers into sending him naked pictures pretending to be their team-mates
A Premier League and Championship star was scammed into sending naked pictures(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A sick sex offender scammed Premier League and Championship footballers into sending him naked pictures.
William Kirkpatrick, 27, pretended to be team-mates of his victims to trick them into sending explicit pictures. As reported by the Ayr Advertiser, The Scot messaged a Sheffield Wednesday player on WhatsApp in 2024, claiming he would be added to the team group chat if he sent him two naked snaps.
The victim was then asked to send the phone numbers of other players and later received messages referring to his “initiation” and said, “You know who this is.”
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
He then targeted a player from Nottingham Forest at a later date in 2024, sending him a message saying: “I’ve got your welcome forfeit. Slips or birthday suit.”
The deputy fiscal prosecuting the case against him said: “One complainer played for English Championship team Sheffield Wednesday.
“On June 16, 2024, he received a WhatsApp message from a mobile number [purporting to be a Sheffield Wednesday player] advising that he could be added to the club group chat, but he had to do a forfeit first and send two nude pictures of himself, which he did.
“The complainer received a message from another number about the forfeit, asking if he had done it.
“He was asked to provide numbers for other players and still thought this was [the named team member] and sent other numbers of players.
“The complainer realised this was not [the named players] and messaged telling them to own up, but received no response.”
The victim contacted police when his team-mates confirmed none of them had sent him or received the messages. Twisted Kirkpatrick demanded no cash from his victim but it is unknown if the images were shared.
The Forest player believed the message was real and was “frightened and worried about the impact on his career”, with a second report made to police.
Police raided Kirkpatrick’s home in Ayr with a search warrant and seized an iPhone which had the naked pictures sent by both players on it.
He was added to the sex offenders’ register after admitting to the scam at Ayr Sheriff Court. He then pled guilty to two charges of fraud, which prosecutors say had a significant sexual element.
The prosecutor added: “At this time the accused made full admissions. He stated it was purely for sexual gratification.” Kirkpatrick was bailed and is due to return for sentencing at a later date.
Sheriff Siobhan Connelly said: “These are serious matters you have pleaded guilty to. In order to determine the appropriate sentence I will defer for criminal justice social work reports and sexual risk assessment.
“Given the nature of what I have heard, I have determined this involved a significant sexual element and you will be subject to registration requirements.
“You will be required to provide information to police in a short set timeframe, it is important you comply. The length of time will be told to you at sentence.”
