LYLE MILNE FROM EDINBURGH AND STIRLING JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES
| Red Rose Database
Edinburgh Stirling Sexual Abuser
In August 2008, a young man named Lyle Milne, aged 23, faced serious legal consequences after being found guilty of possessing and viewing child pornography. The incident unfolded in Edinburgh, where Milne was residing at the time, and involved a disturbing discovery that led to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment.
Milne, a student studying divinity at Edinburgh University, was caught in a police raid on his flat in Nicholson Square, Edinburgh. The authorities had been alerted by a flatmate who, while searching for music on a shared computer system, inadvertently came across four highly disturbing videos depicting the abuse of young children. The flatmate, horrified by the titles of these files, immediately reported her concerns to the police, prompting a detailed investigation.
During the police search of Milne’s residence, all of his computer equipment was seized and taken to a forensic unit for analysis. The investigation revealed four video clips related to child abuse. One of these files had been temporarily deleted, but the remaining three were recovered from unallocated space on the computer’s hard drive. Two of the videos were classified as being of a particularly serious nature, falling into the second highest category on the copine scale, which is used to assess the severity of such material.
Milne initially claimed to police that he was unaware of the existence of these illegal files, suggesting that he might have downloaded them during a period of amnesia. He stated that he did not remember downloading or viewing the videos and implied that his memory loss might explain his possession of such material. However, during the court proceedings at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, it was made clear that Milne was fully aware of his actions. The court was told that he had been sharing a flat with three other individuals, and they had set up a wireless internet connection to facilitate access to media libraries among themselves.
Despite his claims of ignorance, Milne admitted to possessing the videos and was found guilty. The court heard that he had been actively sharing these files, which contained highly explicit and disturbing content involving children. The judge, Sheriff Gordon Liddle, described the videos as “filthy material” and emphasized the heinous nature of the crimes involved. The court also noted that the videos depicted actual abuse, making the offense even more reprehensible.
Milne’s legal representative, Euan Cameron, expressed his client’s remorse, stating that Milne was “disgusted” by his actions and no longer had private internet access. Cameron highlighted that Milne had taken steps to turn his life around, including moving back in with his parents and accepting responsibility for his conduct. He requested that the sheriff consider a probationary sentence, given Milne’s remorse and efforts to reform.
However, Sheriff Liddle was unequivocal in his judgment, asserting that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the severity of the offense. The sheriff pointed out that the explicit nature of the videos involved actual abuse, which warranted a longer period of imprisonment. He condemned the material as “appalling” and emphasized the gravity of participating in or subscribing to such content, underscoring the profound harm inflicted on victims and the societal outrage over such crimes.
As a result of his conviction, Milne was sentenced to six months in prison. Additionally, he will be placed on license for two years upon release and will be required to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences faced by individuals involved in the possession and distribution of child pornography, and it highlights the vigilance of law enforcement and the judicial system in tackling such heinous crimes.
Milne, a student studying divinity at Edinburgh University, was caught in a police raid on his flat in Nicholson Square, Edinburgh. The authorities had been alerted by a flatmate who, while searching for music on a shared computer system, inadvertently came across four highly disturbing videos depicting the abuse of young children. The flatmate, horrified by the titles of these files, immediately reported her concerns to the police, prompting a detailed investigation.
During the police search of Milne’s residence, all of his computer equipment was seized and taken to a forensic unit for analysis. The investigation revealed four video clips related to child abuse. One of these files had been temporarily deleted, but the remaining three were recovered from unallocated space on the computer’s hard drive. Two of the videos were classified as being of a particularly serious nature, falling into the second highest category on the copine scale, which is used to assess the severity of such material.
Milne initially claimed to police that he was unaware of the existence of these illegal files, suggesting that he might have downloaded them during a period of amnesia. He stated that he did not remember downloading or viewing the videos and implied that his memory loss might explain his possession of such material. However, during the court proceedings at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, it was made clear that Milne was fully aware of his actions. The court was told that he had been sharing a flat with three other individuals, and they had set up a wireless internet connection to facilitate access to media libraries among themselves.
Despite his claims of ignorance, Milne admitted to possessing the videos and was found guilty. The court heard that he had been actively sharing these files, which contained highly explicit and disturbing content involving children. The judge, Sheriff Gordon Liddle, described the videos as “filthy material” and emphasized the heinous nature of the crimes involved. The court also noted that the videos depicted actual abuse, making the offense even more reprehensible.
Milne’s legal representative, Euan Cameron, expressed his client’s remorse, stating that Milne was “disgusted” by his actions and no longer had private internet access. Cameron highlighted that Milne had taken steps to turn his life around, including moving back in with his parents and accepting responsibility for his conduct. He requested that the sheriff consider a probationary sentence, given Milne’s remorse and efforts to reform.
However, Sheriff Liddle was unequivocal in his judgment, asserting that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the severity of the offense. The sheriff pointed out that the explicit nature of the videos involved actual abuse, which warranted a longer period of imprisonment. He condemned the material as “appalling” and emphasized the gravity of participating in or subscribing to such content, underscoring the profound harm inflicted on victims and the societal outrage over such crimes.
As a result of his conviction, Milne was sentenced to six months in prison. Additionally, he will be placed on license for two years upon release and will be required to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences faced by individuals involved in the possession and distribution of child pornography, and it highlights the vigilance of law enforcement and the judicial system in tackling such heinous crimes.