EUAN TOMNEY CAUGHT IN EDINBURGH SEX OFFENDER SCANDAL INVOLVING PRIMARY SCHOOL WORKER
In a disturbing case that has shocked the Edinburgh community, Euan Tomney, a primary school play assistant, was found guilty of engaging in inappropriate online conduct with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.The incident unfolded in May of this year, when members of Groom Resisters Scotland, a group known for online vigilante activities against suspected paedophiles, set up a sting operation outside Blackhall Primary School in Edinburgh.
Tomney had initially made contact with an online account under the name Ben Holmes, which was later revealed to have been created by members of the online group.
The conversation began innocuously, with Tomney exchanging messages with the account, but it quickly took a sinister turn as he introduced sexual language and explicit content.
According to court reports, Tomney told the supposed teenager, “you’re cute,” and inquired about his age, claiming he was 21 but believed the boy was only 14.
He further disclosed that he had been caught engaging in a sexual act with another boy at school and asked the boy if he had measured his private parts.
The conversation escalated as Tomney admitted, “I think about sex all the time – I am always horny,” and then requested the boy to exchange pictures of their genitals.
The court heard that Tomney subsequently sent two explicit images of his own penis—one showing it protruding from his boxer shorts and another depicting an erect state.
These exchanges culminated in a confrontation outside Blackhall Primary School, where members of the Groom Resisters Scotland group approached Tomney.
The incident was live-streamed on Facebook, capturing the moment he was confronted and identified.
Following this, police were called to handle the situation.
Tomney was immediately dismissed from his role at the after-school club, and it was reported that his mother, who also worked at the same facility, lost her employment as well.
Police seized Tomney’s phone at St Leonard’s police station in Edinburgh.
Despite the encryption of WhatsApp messages, officers discovered a recently deleted account under the name Ben Holmes on his device, which was linked to the online conversations.
The investigation revealed that Tomney had attempted to erase evidence of his misconduct before his arrest.
During the court proceedings, defence solicitor Joe Boyd explained that Tomney had previously studied child care at Edinburgh College but had not completed the course.
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Boyd described his client as extremely nervous and scared about the court appearance, emphasizing that Tomney’s recollection of the events was limited and that he struggled to provide a coherent explanation for his actions.
Judge Sheriff Frank Crowe addressed Tomney directly, stating, “You were obviously trying to get in touch with a child and we must make sure children are not approached in this way.” The court heard that Tomney pleaded guilty to charges of intentionally sending written communication and sexual images to a person he believed to be a minor.
As a result, Sheriff Crowe ordered that Tomney be placed on the sex offenders register for an unspecified period and deferred sentencing until next month to allow for the preparation of reports.
The case has raised serious concerns about safeguarding and the safety of children in Edinburgh, prompting calls for increased vigilance and protective measures in local schools and communities.
