Fake rent boy blackmailed closeted gay men out of fortunes with threats to out them

A victim of a man who pretended to be a rent boy to blackmail him out of thousands of pounds has said he nearly took his life due to the abuse.

Robert Bain told victims he would reveal their sexuality to their families if they did not hand over cash.

He told one victim he would frame him as a child abuser and leak details of his private life online and in the local newspaper.

Bain managed to con £16,000 out of another man by claiming he had a sick child and needed care, before threatening him with gangsters.

One of the victims said: “The effects will remain with me for some time yet and may never go away.”

Newcastle Crown Court (Google Maps)

Another man said he had been forced to take out pay-day loans and use inheritance from his grandfather to cover the debts demanded by Bain.

In a victim statement, the man said: “I feel I can’t trust anyone and I’m paranoid I will be taken advantage of.

“He had no right to take advantage of my good nature the way he did. He made me live in fear.

“The difficulties will remain with me for some time yet and may never go away.”

Bain met one of his victims while they were waiting to meet a male escort and pretended he was the sex worker.