ALBERT RITCHIE CAUGHT IN MUSSELBURGH CHILD SEX OFFENDER STING

A man from Musselburgh was apprehended as part of an undercover police operation aimed at identifying and apprehending online child sex offenders. The operation involved the use of a fake social media profile to lure individuals attempting to engage in illegal activities with minors.

Albert Ritchie, aged 62, was found to have engaged in a disturbing online exchange where he sent sexual messages and explicit videos of his genitals to what he believed was a young schoolgirl named Sofia. Over a period of six days in July 2023, Ritchie made inappropriate comments about solo-sex acts and shared explicit images of himself. He also requested that the supposed minor send nude photographs of herself.

However, the individual Ritchie was communicating with was not a young girl but an undercover officer operating the fake profile. This setup was part of a broader effort by law enforcement to catch individuals attempting to exploit minors online.

Following the online interactions, police officers visited Ritchie's residence on Pinkie Terrace in Musselburgh to confront him about his conduct. During a search of his personal devices, authorities discovered that Ritchie was also in possession of images depicting child abuse.

Ritchie subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of intentionally causing a person he believed to be a child to view sexual images, as well as possessing indecent images of children. These offenses were committed at his home address between August 2022 and March 2024.

In court, Sheriff Thomson ordered that Ritchie be placed on the sex offenders register on an interim basis. The judge also deferred the final sentencing, which is scheduled to take place at the end of the month, allowing for further legal proceedings and assessments to be completed.