John McNair, 43, entered a guilty plea to two sexual offenses against Deborah Johnstone, his former lover, he was sentenced at Falkirk Sheriff Court. He was then put on the register of sex offenders and given a non-harassing order. But three months after his sentence, McNair posted a fake letter on TikHub saying he had been declared “not guilty” after appeal. Full of spelling mistakes, this letter said: “On the 10th of October, 2024, the court found that Mr. John McNair was not guilty in court for his appeal due to misrepresenting and an unfair trial, and due to the evidence provided, we found Mr. McNair not guilty on all accounts.”
For Ms. Johnstone, the distribution of this fake letter has had serious consequences. Once it started to circulate, people fooled by McNair’s dishonesty started online attacking her. Declaring her anxiety, Ms. Johnstone said, “I am afraid to leave my house should I run across one of these people. These anonymous trolls mistreating me make me wary of everyone I come across on the street, and I’m always looking over my shoulder.” The constant online abuse has driven her to improve her personal security protocols by installing surveillance cameras and a panic alarm at her house.
Ms. Johnstone’s journey with McNair started throughout their eight-year marriage, which she said was progressively “toxic.” McNair convinced her to see one last time under the guise of giving her a present for her child after calling off their relationship in 2023. During their October 2023 meeting, McNair drove her to a remote location and tried to attack her. Remembering the horrific incident, Ms. Johnstone recalled, “He started caressing me and tried to force himself on me. Starting to create a scene, I got out of the car and dashed back to my house. I immediately called the cops.
McNair’s acts linger on Ms. Johnstone even after his sentence and non-harassment order were issued. False information has not only damaged her reputation but also made people generally afraid for her children’s and her own safety. She said, “I’m frightened that someone hurts my kids too. I’m always anxious. I had so much will to bring him to court, and now I’m fighting a different struggle.” Ms. Johnstone wants to clear the record and save other possible victims from McNair’s manipulations by publicizing her story. She underlined, “He is a liar, and the more people who know what he is really like, the better, since he is a danger to women.”
False court document fabrication and distribution constitute a major offense, therefore compromising the integrity of the court system and maybe leading to contempt of court. By casting doubt on survivors’ authenticity and empowering offenders, such acts might exacerbate victimization of them. This case emphasizes the need for strong systems to confirm the validity of legal papers shared on the internet and the significance of helping survivors against digital abuse.
The courage of Deborah Johnstone in revealing the dishonesty of her ex-partner reminds us of the difficulties survivors of sexual assault could have even long after court cases finish. Her narrative emphasizes the need of always being alert against false information and the need of helping and defending people who come forward to pursue justice.
