Antiques dealer guilty of sexual assault on young girl at 17th-century Scottish mansion

John Martin targeted the youngster when she attended at his former home at the historic Letham House near Haddington on occasions between 1986 and 1990.

Martin, 74, also sexually abused a second victim at addresses in Perth and St Andrews in the 1990s.

Martin, who was extradited from his home in Thailand earlier this year, denied all the historic allegations and stood trial over four days at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week.

Both victims, now in their 40s, gave evidence to the jury, stating they had been sexually assaulted by Martin while they visited his homes in Haddington, Perth and St Andrews.

Martin also gave evidence claiming his innocence, but the jury delivered majority guilty verdicts to him using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards both victims.

The court was told Martin, who owned an antiques business in the capital’s Grassmarket area, had left Scotland and moved to Thailand around 2010 and married a local woman and the pair had a child together.

A not proven verdict was returned by the jury to Martin using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards a third child at his former home at Letham House in Haddington between April 1978 and April 1985.

Sheriff Alastair Noble placed Martin on the sex offenders’ register on an interim basis and deferred sentence to next month.

Martin was remanded in custody pending sentencing.

Letham House is a three story B-listed country mansion and is said to have been built as a laird’s house in 1645 and incorporates extensive gardens and grounds.

The historic property has been completely renovated in recent years and was on the market for £1.45 million in 2020