JOHN BERMINGHAM SENTENCED TO LIFE IN EDINBURGH FOR SERIAL SEX OFFENCES
John Bermingham, a 55-year-old serial sex offender from Edinburgh who exhibits psychopathic traits, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being assessed as posing a high risk to the public.Bermingham was convicted earlier this year of abusing three victims during their childhoods in Edinburgh.
His criminal history includes a 12-year sentence in 2002 for sex attacks on a teenager and an 11-year-old girl, and subsequent two separate imprisonments for breaching court orders.
He was acquitted in a 2018 trial of attempting to abduct two young girls at Hallglen, Falkirk, in Stirlingshire.
Police found sweets, sleeping pills, and condoms in his possession following his arrest.
Following his latest conviction, the trial judge, Lord Fairley, requested a comprehensive risk assessment report on Bermingham, a former boxer and career criminal.
A former consultant forensic psychiatrist at the State Hospital at Carstairs, Dr.
John Baird, concluded that Bermingham presents a high risk to the public.
When asked by advocate depute Lisa Gillespie QC whether he was certain of this assessment, Dr.
Baird responded: "I have to say I am not." He added that Bermingham exhibits "quite a number of psychopathic traits." Dr.
Baird testified in Edinburgh’s High Court that Bermingham’s risk could only be managed if he remained in a closed prison setting.
He also noted that Bermingham believes he was the victim of police harassment and successive miscarriages of justice.
In light of these findings, Lord Fairley imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction, stating it was necessary for public protection.
The judge directly addressed Bermingham, saying: "I am quite satisfied that you do, as Dr.
Baird concluded, meet the threshold for psychopathy." An indeterminate life sentence was handed down with a minimum term of four years before the Parole Board can review his case.
However, the judge clarified, "It certainly does not signify you are likely to be released at the end of that period or that you will ever be released.
That is, as I have said, for others to decide." Bermingham’s recent convictions include three counts of indecent conduct towards two girls aged eight and 14 at addresses in Pilton and Muirhouse in Edinburgh in 1999.
He was also convicted of another indecency offense against a boy aged 13 or 14.
Despite denying the charges, he was found guilty.
Additionally, he was convicted of assaulting an adult woman, having punched her in the head and body multiple times between 1999 and 2001 at various addresses in Edinburgh.
He was informed that he will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely following his sentencing.
