JOHN SHARP, EDINBURGH PAEDOPHILE AND HOTEL WORKER, SENTENCED FOR FILMING WOMEN NAKED IN EDINBURGH HOTEL
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Edinburgh, John Sharp, a man with a troubling past, has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found guilty of secretly filming women as they undressed at a hotel in the city.The incident took place in the Bruntsfield area, where Sharp was employed as a hotel porter, a position that allowed him access to guests and staff alike.
Sharp, aged 48, was not new to the criminal justice system.
He previously served a four-year sentence in 2001 for abusing two young girls, aged four and six, at a time when he was living in Sauchie, Clacks.
During that earlier conviction, he admitted to indecency and the production of indecent images of children, with authorities revealing that he had amassed approximately 7,400 images of child sexual abuse.
The court heard how he had forced the young girls to remove their clothing before engaging in sexual acts with them.
Fast forward to the recent case, Edinburgh Sheriff Court was informed that Sharp had installed hidden cameras in a changing room at the hotel where he worked.
These cameras captured footage of female colleagues as they changed out of their uniforms.
The footage was stored on his personal home computer, which became the focus of police investigations.
The police were initially called to Sharp’s residence in July 2012 after receiving a tip-off that he might be involved in downloading child abuse images.
When officers arrived unannounced, Sharp permitted them to search his laptop, where they discovered a total of 889 images and two videos depicting children being abused.
Further investigation revealed that Sharp had installed software designed to delete evidence of his viewing habits, indicating an attempt to conceal his activities.
The police also uncovered additional videos on his computer, which were recorded covertly at his workplace.
These videos showed female staff members changing clothes, unaware they were being filmed.
The women involved could not be identified publicly due to legal restrictions, but it was confirmed that they had no knowledge of the recordings.
Sharp’s employment at the hotel was terminated following the discovery, and he was subsequently arrested.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Sharp had felt traumatized after leaving the Royal Navy, which may have contributed to his current behavior.
His defense lawyer, Nigel Beaumont, argued that his client’s past experiences, including witnessing sexual abuse as a young person, had a significant impact on his mental health.
The court also heard that Sharp had anger management issues and had shown contempt towards others.
In sentencing, Sheriff Donald Corke emphasized the seriousness of Sharp’s actions, stating that custody was inevitable.
The court also ordered Sharp to be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.
The judge highlighted the gravity of the offenses, especially considering Sharp’s history of abusing children and the invasive nature of his recent crimes involving covert filming of women in a professional setting.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding sexual misconduct and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding individuals from such violations in public and private spaces alike.
