JOHN MARTIN EXTRADITED FROM THAILAND TO HADDINGTON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

This case marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice as law enforcement authorities finally apprehended and extradited John Martin, a known paedophile from East Lothian, from Thailand to face serious criminal charges in Scotland.

Martin, who was found in Thailand after fleeing the UK, was captured in a dramatic operation that saw Thai police officers standing nearby as he was led away. The 74-year-old antiques dealer from Haddington was seen sweating profusely and resting his hands on his knees as he leaned against the boot of a car, awaiting extradition. The authorities in Thailand detained him in September of the previous year following the issuance of an international arrest warrant, and he has since spent approximately 14 months in custody.

Following his extradition, Martin was brought before Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month to face charges related to historic child sex offences committed at his former residence near Haddington. On Friday, he appeared again at the same court for sentencing, where he was handed a prison term exceeding three years for his heinous crimes. The court heard that Martin had sexually abused one victim and took photographs of her during visits to his property between 1986 and 1990. These offences occurred at a time when the victim was a young girl, and the abuse left a lasting impact.

In addition to the abuse in Haddington, Martin was also convicted of targeting a second young person during the 1990s at addresses in Perth and St Andrews. The allegations against him came to light after the victims, now adults, bravely testified in court, recounting their experiences of being sexually assaulted by Martin during visits to his homes in these locations. Despite Martin’s denial of any wrongdoing, the jury found him guilty of multiple charges, including lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices directed towards both victims.

During the sentencing hearing, Sheriff Alastair Noble emphasized the profound and lifelong effects of Martin’s actions on the victims. He stated, “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.”

As a result, Martin was sentenced to a total of 39 months in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period and was subject to non-harassment orders that prohibit any contact with the victims for the next 20 years. The court also noted that Martin’s family in Thailand remains supportive of him, and he intends to return to Thailand upon his release from prison.

It was revealed during the proceedings that Martin has previously battled two bouts of cancer and expressed significant concern about his health, fearing he may not survive long within the Scottish prison system. The court’s findings confirmed that Martin committed the first offence in Haddington between August 1986 and August 1990, and the second set of offences involved assaulting the second victim on various occasions from December 1990 to February 1996. The case underscores the importance of international cooperation in bringing offenders to justice, regardless of where they attempt to evade prosecution.