EDINBURGH PERVERT RYAN MILLER CAUGHT AT PORTOBELLO SWIMMING CENTRE
In March 2021, a disturbing incident involving Ryan Miller, a 29-year-old man from Joppa, Edinburgh, came to light at the Portobello Swim Centre.Miller was found guilty of a serious breach of trust and privacy when he secretly took photographs of two young girls in a changing cubicle within the swimming facility.
The victims, aged just eight and nine, had finished their swimming lessons and were in the process of changing when Miller, acting in a predatory manner, placed a mobile phone beneath the cubicle where they were dressing.
The incident occurred around 1.50 pm on September 23, 2019, after the children had completed their lessons and moved to the changing area.
According to court reports, the two girls entered the same cubicle to change out of their swimming costumes.
One of the girls noticed a hand emerging from the foot of an adjacent cubicle, holding a mobile phone and making noises indicative of taking photographs.
Startled and frightened, she quickly left the cubicle and sought assistance from a nearby teaching assistant.
Meanwhile, the second girl, upon peering around the cubicle door, saw Miller leaving the area alone.
Her observation prompted immediate action from staff at the centre.
A swim centre supervisor confronted Miller, who responded aggressively, shouting, “I’m not doing this here,” before fleeing the scene.
The staff member then alerted police, who traced Miller to his home two days later.
During his arrest, Miller claimed that he had accidentally dropped his phone in the cubicle, attempting to dismiss the incident.
However, further investigations revealed a darker truth.
Miller later confessed to his girlfriend that he was attracted to children and had attempted to take pictures of the two semi-naked girls at the pool.
This admission led to his guilty plea in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where he admitted to placing his phone under the cubicle and attempting to photograph the girls, as well as breaching the peace.
In sentencing, Sheriff Peter McCormack ordered Miller to be registered as a sex offender for five years.
Additionally, Miller was prohibited from contacting anyone under the age of 16, placed under a two-year supervision order to monitor his conduct, and fitted with an electronic tag.
He is also required to remain within his home between 8 pm and 6 am for a period of 135 days.
The court heard that Miller’s actions caused significant distress.
Prosecutor Jack Castor detailed that Miller arrived at the Portobello Swim Centre with the man he was caring for around 12.50 pm.
The two children involved were part of a school group participating in swimming lessons.
After the lessons, the children went to change in the same cubicle, where the incident occurred.
The girls, while changing, noticed a mobile phone making noise, which they associated with photography.
The first girl, frightened, left the cubicle to alert a staff member, while the second saw Miller leaving the area alone.
Following his arrest, Miller told police that he knew what the incident was about and claimed it was related to dropping his phone.
He also admitted to his partner that he had been filming children at the swimming pool and that he was attracted to minors.
His partner ended their relationship immediately after learning of his confession.
This case highlights the ongoing concerns about safeguarding children in public spaces and the importance of vigilance by staff and guardians to prevent such heinous acts.
The authorities continue to emphasize the need for strict monitoring and swift action to protect vulnerable individuals from predators like Ryan Miller.
