DIVING INSTRUCTOR MICHAEL BRAMHAM FROM EDINBURGH ON SEX OFFENDER REGISTER AFTER CHILD ABUSE PLOT IN NEWCASTLE
A diving instructor has been placed on the sex offenders register after attempting to recruit a 14-year-old girl for lewd activities.The man, later identified as Michael Bramham, 44, encouraged her to meet him in a hotel, standing in slime, and rubbing her sweaty feet on his face.
The police in England targeted online child abuse and set up an undercover advertisement on Gumtree, posing as a 14-year-old schoolgirl seeking babysitting jobs in Newcastle and Sunderland.
Bramham responded to the ad, contacting the supposed girl via email, using a pseudonym “Mike.” An extensive exchange took place between them, initially on Gumtree and then by email.
Bramham, who is a father-of-one, inquired about modeling opportunities, claiming it would be modest and age-appropriate, and offered payment of 100.
Prosecutor Cheryl Clark explained: “He said he had kids himself and repeatedly asked her to send photographs of herself.” The conversation took a disturbing turn when he detailed what he wanted to do with her feet.
Bramham promised a photoshoot and suggested they could meet during the week after school hours.
He described the activities he wanted to photograph, including her being barefoot, with her feet covered in slime, standing in buckets of goo, and lying face down with toes submerged in goo.
He asked if she would tell her mother, and she responded that she was advised not to.
Bramham proposed doing a photoshoot that night and promised to arrange more images, stating: “Just want to see what you look like and if your feet are OK.” He also said he would book a place to meet before the end of February 2020.
Further conversations included questions about her clothing and age, with Bramham asking: “When are you 15?
Not important, just curious.” The communication continued with Bramham instructing her to delete emails to prevent her mother from seeing the messages.
He also made multiple requests to photograph her bare feet, mentioning he had booked a hotel apartment in Newcastle from 12 o'clock onwards.
Bramham referenced doing “extra bits for money,” which involved smelling her feet, placing his nose between her toes, and her rubbing her sweaty feet in his face.
He asked her to clench her toes and curl her toes up, as part of the disturbing scenario.
He offered to pay between 160 and 200 for further lewd activities if she was interested in additional “bits,” including smelling her feet for half an hour with her face pressed into her soles and toes.
Bramham suggested she should not wear socks after PE to facilitate the activities.
He explained he couldn’t give her his number, saying: “As the missus might pick up if you call,” but reassured her she would be treated with respect.
The police traced the messages back to Bramham’s home in Denny, Stirlingshire.
On June 10, 2020, officers executed a warrant at his residence, where his wife was present with a young child.
Bramham was arrested around 4:30 p.m.
that day on a sea pier in Achiltibuie, near Ullapool in Ross-shire.
During the arrest, Bramham commented to officers: “I had a feeling the person I was speaking to wasn't real.” A first-time offender now living in Bonaly, Edinburgh, Bramham pleaded guilty at Falkirk Sheriff Court to attempting to communicate indecently with an older child with sexual intent between January 20 and February 20, 2020.
Defense solicitor Gary McAteer reserved mitigation, and Sheriff Simon Collins QC postponed sentencing until March 17 for reports, while Bramham was placed on the sex offenders register.
According to Atlantic Diving Services, based in Achiltibuie, Bramham is a professional scuba diver, PADI assistant instructor, and first aid instructor who leads diving expeditions around Scotland’s Western and Northern Isles and enjoys underwater filming.
