STUART MILNE, BOYS' BRIGADE LEADER FROM BROUGHTY FERRY, JAILED FOR ONLINE SEX CHAT WITH 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In July 2014, Stuart Milne, a 25-year-old Boys' Brigade leader from Broughty Ferry, Dundee, was sentenced to two years in prison following his involvement in disturbing online sex chats with a 12-year-old girl.Milne was arrested in a field in Argyll and Bute during a camping trip with his troop, after police uncovered evidence of his Skype communications with the young girl.
The investigation was triggered in July 2013 when the girl’s parents discovered indecent images on her tablet and learned she had been engaging in online sexual conversations since the age of 11.
She had sent explicit photos of herself and engaged in sexual acts via her devices.
Additionally, police found she had received images from a man on her Skype contact list, which led them to Milne.
Police confirmed Milne was involved in the chats, admitting to participating and exchanging images over a period of approximately ten months.
He pleaded guilty to two charges under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act and was subsequently jailed for two years by Sheriff Elizabeth Munro.
The court also mandated two years’ supervision upon his release and ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Previously, in May 2014, Milne had admitted to having sexualized conversations with the girl and exchanging explicit images, with police finding evidence during a forensic examination of her devices.
The forensic analysis revealed ongoing communication from October 2012 to June 2013.
Deputy Fiscal Susan Ruta outlined that Milne was a single man living with his parents and working as a Tesco delivery driver.
At the time, he was a leader within the Boys’ Brigade along with his father.
The girl involved was still in primary school, and her electronic devices were used to access the internet in her room.
After the parents’ discovery, authorities seized devices and confirmed the nature of the chats through forensic investigations.
A search of Milne’s home was conducted following a warrant, revealing Skype messages and contact details with the girl.
The police detained Milne while he was on a camping trip with the Boys’ Brigade, and he was placed under arrest due to the evidence against him.
William Boyle, Milne’s defense lawyer, noted that the case would likely require additional reports, prompting Sheriff George Way to defer sentencing until the following month for social work assessments.
Milne was released on bail pending sentencing and continues to be subject to sex offender registration.
