William Kirkpatrick, 27, has been spared a prison sentence after admitting to two fraud charges for scamming Premier League and Championship footballers between June and July 2024. Kirkpatrick impersonated a fellow player to convince the athletes to send him nude photographs, according to court documents.
Kirkpatrick sent a WhatsApp message to a Sheffield Wednesday player, stating that the player could be added to the team's group chat if he provided two naked images. Following this, Kirkpatrick requested the phone numbers of other players. He then targeted a Nottingham Forest player with a message that read: ‘I’ve got your welcome forfeit. Slips or birthday suit.’
Police were alerted when the Sheffield Wednesday player's teammates revealed they were not behind the messages. The Nottingham Forest player, believing the message to be authentic, expressed fear about the potential impact on his career, leading to a second report to the police.
Officers from Police Scotland searched Kirkpatrick's residence in Ayr, seizing an iPhone that contained the nude pictures from both players, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons. There was no evidence to suggest Kirkpatrick had shared or sold the images. According to a social work report presented in court, Kirkpatrick expressed "shame and regret" over his actions.
Appearing at Ayr Sheriff Court, Kirkpatrick, now residing in Glasgow, pleaded guilty to the charges. His defense counsel, Quentin Muir, described the offenses as unusual, noting they were related to professional footballers and involved invitations for initiation photos. Muir also stated there was no financial gain and that Kirkpatrick acted for his own sexual gratification, with no attempt made to publish the images.
Sheriff Connelly acknowledged the seriousness of the offense, stating that Kirkpatrick was entirely to blame and involved in an extensive scheme to obtain the players' phone numbers and send the deceptive messages, causing significant harm and distress. While noting that such offenses could warrant a custodial sentence, the sheriff opted for a "high-tariff community disposal" for rehabilitation purposes.
As a direct alternative to prison, Kirkpatrick was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and will be electronically tagged for two months. He will also be subject to supervision for three years and placed on the sex offenders register for five years, as prosecutors argued the scam had a significant sexual element. Sheriff Connelly warned Kirkpatrick that any breach of these court orders would result in imprisonment.