VINIT KOTADIYA SHOCKS TRANENT WITH ALLEGED SEX OFFENSES AND ALCOHOL SUPPLY TO SCHOOLGIRL

In June 2022, a disturbing case emerged involving a shopkeeper from Tranent, East Lothian, who engaged in inappropriate and illegal conduct towards a young girl. Vinit Kotadiya, aged 23, was accused of supplying alcohol to a 13-year-old girl and sending her a series of messages that were grossly offensive and of an indecent nature. The incident spanned over a period from January 1 to February 18 of the previous year, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of minors in the community.

According to court proceedings, the young girl first encountered Kotadiya outside the Lifestyle Express store located on Bridge Street in Tranent. It was during this initial meeting that the shop worker, who resides in Gorgie, Edinburgh, began to establish a friendship with her. Court documents revealed that Kotadiya shared his Instagram account details with the girl, who then followed him on the social media platform. Despite being informed of her age, Kotadiya continued to pursue a relationship with her, which included buying her alcohol and making arrangements to meet her in private.

The court heard that Kotadiya handed the girl alcohol in a back alley behind the store, an act that was both illegal and deeply concerning. In early February, he asked her to be his Valentine, to which she responded that she was only 13. Despite this, he reportedly told her he would wait for her and expressed his love, even stating his desire to marry her. These messages and gestures caused alarm among those close to the girl.

Further evidence presented in court indicated that Kotadiya gifted the girl a new rucksack, a bottle of vodka, and a sum of £120 in cash on her 14th birthday, actions that intensified the concern of her family. Her mother, noticing messages exchanged between her daughter and friends about these gifts, became increasingly worried about her daughter's interactions with Kotadiya. This concern prompted the mother to contact the police, leading to Kotadiya's subsequent arrest and charges.

During the hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, defense lawyer Callum Turner requested that his client not be placed on the Sex Offenders Register at this stage, although he indicated that mitigation would be deferred until sentencing. Sheriff John Cook stated that he would consider the possibility of including Kotadiya on the register and postponed the sentencing to the following month to allow for the preparation of reports.

Vinit Kotadiya pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sending electronic messages that were grossly offensive or of an indecent nature to a 13-year-old girl, expressing love and a desire to marry her, and providing her with alcohol in a public place during the specified period. The case highlights serious concerns about grooming, illegal alcohol distribution, and the protection of minors in the East Lothian area, particularly in the town of Tranent.