MARTIN LIPSCOPE FROM EDINBURGH BANNED FROM PLAYPARKS AND SUBJECT TO STRICT CONDITIONS
In August 2021, Martin Lipscombe, a resident of Leith, Edinburgh, was banned from entering playparks, schools, nurseries, and any place designed for children following charges related to disturbing online activity.Lipscombe, aged 30, was found to have sent videos of himself performing sexual acts over children’s clothing and taking photos of a 12-year-old girl and her clothing hanging on a washing line.
These images and videos were shared with an unidentified male, with whom Lipscombe discussed inappropriate intentions involving the girl via WhatsApp messages.
During the court hearing, Sheriff Douglas Keir placed Lipscombe on a two-year community payback order with supervision and committed him to the sex offenders register for the same period.
Sheriff Keir also mandated Lipscombe to participate in rehabilitation programs for sex offenders and banned him from contacting anyone under the age of 18.
At a previous hearing in June, when Lipscombe pled guilty, prosecutor Anna Robertson outlined that police executed a search warrant at Lipscombe’s home following an intelligence tip-off.
Several videos were discovered on devices at the premises, including footage of Lipscombe masturbating over children’s clothing, which Ms.
Robertson identified as a dress.
The investigation revealed Lipscombe also took photographs of a 12-year-old girl in her garden and of children’s clothing hanging on a washing line.
He sent these images to the unknown male, discussing the child in a sexualized manner, including the idea of having her watch him masturbate.
Police found a total of 2170 messages and 274 attachments exchanged between Lipscombe and the unidentified male.
He admitted to threatening and abusive behavior by sharing these videos and photos between June 1 and July 1, 2020.
The case highlights the extent of Lipscombe’s online activities, which involved the circulation of sexually explicit content related to minors and discussions of potential abuse.
In a separate incident in June 2021, Lipscombe also recorded himself performing sex acts over children’s gym clothing and shared images of a 12-year-old girl and her clothing.
These actions led to further charges, with police confirming that Lipscombe's devices contained multiple videos of him masturbating over women’s clothing and images of minors, including a girl in her garden.
Following the raid on his home on August 11, 2021, he was charged and pleaded guilty to multiple offences.
Defense solicitor Paul Smith reserved his mitigation purposes for sentencing.
Lipscombe’s conduct has resulted in strict restrictions, including the ban from places frequented by children, registration as a sex offender, and mandatory participation in rehab programs.
