DAMIEN LYNCH CAUGHT IN EDINBURGH AND MIDLOTHIAN CHILD SEX OFFENDER SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Edinburgh and Midlothian, Damian Lynch, a 50-year-old IT specialist, was exposed for engaging in heinous online activities involving minors. Lynch, who owns DAL Consultancy Ltd, was found to have sent explicit images and videos of himself to what he believed were young girls on the social media platform Kick. His actions came to light after he contacted two profiles he thought belonged to children, but which were actually undercover police officers posing as minors to catch online predators.

According to court proceedings, Lynch communicated with a girl named Chloe, who was in fact an undercover officer, and during their interactions, he sent her highly sexual messages along with explicit photographs and videos. One of these images notably displayed a distinctive tribal tattoo on his bicep, which later helped authorities identify him. Lynch also attempted to arrange a meeting with Chloe, further demonstrating his predatory intent.

In addition to his interactions with Chloe, Lynch also engaged with another profile, that of a girl named Emily, who was also an undercover officer. During these conversations, he exchanged sexually explicit messages and asked Emily if she liked older men and if she had ever played with a man's genitals. These exchanges took place between September 27 and October 18, 2018, at an address in Dalkeith, Midlothian.

Police investigations revealed that Lynch had downloaded and possessed horrific child abuse images, including a disturbing video depicting a five-year-old girl being sexually assaulted by an adult male. These materials were found on his electronic devices during a raid on his former residence in Midlothian in October 2018. During police interviews, Lynch claimed he believed the online persona 'Chloe' was an adult engaging in role play and fantasy, asserting that he was not attracted to children and found the images he had downloaded to be repulsive.

He also denied sending the explicit images to a minor, maintaining that he thought 'Chloe' was an adult. Despite his claims, evidence showed he had sent explicit images, including one of his erect penis, and had attempted to meet with the girl. Lynch's actions led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

In court, Lynch pleaded guilty to three sexual offences, including contacting what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl named Emily, and causing her to view sexual images. He also admitted to possessing indecent images of children between July 12 and October 20, 2018. The court heard that Lynch, a father of two young girls, was due for sentencing last week, but the hearing was postponed until August due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Prosecutor Nicole Lavelle detailed Lynch's interactions, emphasizing his engagement in highly sexual conversations with the undercover officers and his attempts to meet the minors. The court was informed that Lynch believed the girls were in their twenties and thought he was participating in role play, a claim he maintained during police interviews. His solicitor, Jim Stephenson, reserved mitigation for the sentencing hearing.

Judge Michael O’Grady QC ordered Lynch to be placed on the sex offenders register for an unspecified period and deferred sentencing. Lynch, currently residing in Seafield, Edinburgh, faces a serious criminal record for his actions, which have raised significant concerns about online safety and child protection in the region.