AN ANTIQUE dealer who was extradited from Thailand to face trial has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl at a 17th-century East Lothian mansion – and is now facing a lengthy jail sentence.

John Martin targeted the youngster when she attended at his former home at historic Letham House, on the outskirts of Haddington, on occasions between 1986 and 1990.

Martin, 74, also sexually abused a second victim by rubbing moisturiser on her naked body and washing her breasts and genitals while she showered at addresses in Perth and St Andrews in the 1990s.

He was also found guilty of removing the child’s clothing and carrying out a sex act on her, all between 1992 and 1996.

Martin was extradited from Thailand to face trial and denied all the historic allegations, standing trial over four days at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week.

Both victims, who are now in their forties, bravely gave evidence to the jury stating that they had been sexually assaulted by Martin while they visited his homes in Haddington, Perth and St Andrews.

Martin also gave evidence claiming his innocence but the jury delivered majority guilty verdicts to him using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards both victims.

Remanded in custody

The court was told that Martin, who owned an antiques business in the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh, had left Scotland and moved to Thailand in about 2010; he had married a local woman and the pair had a child together.

The jury found that he abused the first victim by repeatedly touching her thighs and breasts and instructing her to pose in a provocative way, exposing her underwear and taking photos of her at Letham House between August 1986 and August 1990.

Martin was also found guilty of assaulting the second victim by applying moisturiser to her naked body, placing his hand inside her pyjamas and committing sex acts on her on various occasions between December 1990 and February 1996.

A not proven verdict was returned by the jury to Martin using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards a third child at his former home at Letham House between April 1978 and April 1985.

Sheriff Alastair Noble placed Martin on the sex offenders' register on an interim basis and deferred sentence to next month.

Martin, c/o HMP Edinburgh, was remanded in custody pending sentencing.

Letham House is a three-storey B-listed country mansion and is said to have been built as a laird’s house in 1645; it incorporates extensive gardens and grounds.

The historic property has been completely renovated in recent years and was on the market for £1.45m in 2020.