PICTURES of the moment an antiques dealer was arrested in Thailand on historic child sex offences have been released, as he was jailed for more than three years today.
John Martin sexually abused one victim by touching her body and taking provocative photos of her when she visited his former home at historic Letham House near Haddington on occasions between 1986 and 1990.
Martin, 74, also targeted a second youngster by rubbing moisturiser on her body and washing her intimately at addresses in Perth and St Andrews in the 1990s.
He was also found guilty of removing the child’s clothing and sexually abusing her, all on dates between 1990 and 1996.
Martin was arrested and jailed in Thailand when the historic allegations were made in September last year before being extradited to Scotland to face trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month.
Both victims, now adults, bravely gave evidence to the jury stating that they had been sexually assaulted by Martin while they visited his former homes in Haddington, Perth and St Andrews.
Martin denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty by the jury, who returned majority guilty verdicts to charges of him using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards both victims.
He was remanded in custody and returned to the dock for sentencing on Friday, where Sheriff Alastair Noble said that his offending had had “a lifelong effect” on both victims.
Sherif Noble said: “You have been convicted by a jury of serious offences. The two victim impact statements provided to me demonstrate your offending has had a lifelong effect on both of them.
“It is plain that only custody can be imposed in respect of these matters.
“You continue to deny these matters and have shown no remorse.”
Martin was jailed for a total of 39 months and was placed on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period.
The sheriff also imposed non-harassment orders prohibiting Martin from having any contact with the two victims for 20 years.
The court was told that Martin had been arrested in Thailand in September last year on an international extradition warrant and had spent the last 14 months in custody.
READ MORE: Antique dealer John Martin sexually assaulted young girls
His family in Thailand are said to “remain supportive” and Martin plans to return to the country when he is released.
The court also heard that Martin had suffered two bouts of cancer and was “extremely apprehensive he will die within the prison system here in Scotland”.
The trial heard that Martin, who owned an antiques business in the Capital’s Grassmarket area, had left Scotland and moved to Thailand in about 2010 and married a local woman; the pair had a child together.
The jury found that he abused his first victim by repeatedly touching her body and instructing her to pose in a provocative way and taking photos of her at Letham House, Haddington, between August 1986 and August 1990.
Martin was also found guilty of assaulting the second victim by applying moisturiser to her body, placing his hand inside her pyjamas and sexually abusing 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.
Following Martin's sentencing, Lynne Barrie, Procurator Fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: “John Martin is a sexual predator who preyed on vulnerable young girls over a number of years, inflicting significant trauma.
“It is thanks to their strength and courage in coming forward and reporting the abuse that he has now been brought to justice.
“COPFS is committed to securing justice for victims of sexual abuse, regardless of when the offences occurred.
“We will work with police, and international partners where necessary, to track down and prosecute those responsible.
“I would encourage anyone affected by similar offending to come forward and report it, no matter how much time has passed.
"You will be listened to and supported, and we will use all the tools available to us to secure justice.”
Duncan Burrage, NCA liaison officer for Thailand, said: “John Martin thought he could base himself overseas and escape justice for his sex crimes against children in the UK.
“His arrest and return to Scotland to face these charges is down to the collective efforts of Police Scotland, NCA officers overseas, the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau and the Thai Office of the Attorney General.
“This case highlights the NCA’s determination to track down and bring to justice British child sex offenders, wherever they are in the world and however long it takes. We and our international partners will never stop looking for them.”
Police Scotland Sergeant Richard Robson said: “This was a complex and disturbing case and it is right that John Martin now has to face the consequences of his disgraceful actions.
"My thoughts remain with the victims and their families, and coming forward proved significant in our enquiries. They have shown immense courage in reporting these crimes so that Martin can been held accountable for his actions. I hope that his sentencing gives them some comfort and closure.
“Police Scotland is wholly committed to tackling all cases of child abuse, regardless of when the crimes occurred, and we will continue to work alongside our partners to support any victims and ensure offenders are brought to justice. I would encourage anyone who has been impacted by this type of crime to report it.
“This case is also a good example of successful collaborative working between Police Scotland’s extradition unit, our partners at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and internal colleagues in Thailand in order to bring Martin to justice.”
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