Andrej Palicjuk, 36, pounced on a young girl as she made her way home from school by grabbing her buttocks near her to her home in the Leith in May last year. The distraught schoolgirl made her way home before breaking down and telling her parents about the sex attack on her. Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the child has been left traumatised by the incident and is now “scared to death” to go outside on her own. Palicjuk denied intentionally groping the youngster and claimed he had only intended to pinch her arm as a joke but a sheriff failed to believe his version and found him guilty following a trial. Sheriff Peter Anderson said he had found the child to be “responsible and careful” in giving her evidence and she did “not try to elaborate” what had happened her. Sentencing Palicjuk on March 3, the sheriff said he was “just persuaded” not to impose custody and Palicjuk was was placed on a 24 month supervision order and will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.Andrej Palicjuk, 36, pounced on a young girl as she made her way home from school by grabbing her buttocks near her to her home in the Leith in May last year. The distraught schoolgirl made her way home before breaking down and telling her parents about the sex attack on her. Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the child has been left traumatised by the incident and is now “scared to death” to go outside on her own. Palicjuk denied intentionally groping the youngster and claimed he had only intended to pinch her arm as a joke but a sheriff failed to believe his version and found him guilty following a trial. Sheriff Peter Anderson said he had found the child to be “responsible and careful” in giving her evidence and she did “not try to elaborate” what had happened her. Sentencing Palicjuk on March 3, the sheriff said he was “just persuaded” not to impose custody and Palicjuk was was placed on a 24 month supervision order and will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.
Andrej Palicjuk, 36, pounced on a young girl as she made her way home from school by grabbing her buttocks near her to her home in the Leith in May last year. The distraught schoolgirl made her way home before breaking down and telling her parents about the sex attack on her. Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the child has been left traumatised by the incident and is now “scared to death” to go outside on her own. Palicjuk denied intentionally groping the youngster and claimed he had only intended to pinch her arm as a joke but a sheriff failed to believe his version and found him guilty following a trial. Sheriff Peter Anderson said he had found the child to be “responsible and careful” in giving her evidence and she did “not try to elaborate” what had happened her. Sentencing Palicjuk on March 3, the sheriff said he was “just persuaded” not to impose custody and Palicjuk was was placed on a 24 month supervision order and will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years. | Alexander Lawrie

11 criminals sentenced at Edinburgh's courts in March for crimes including sexual assault and drugs smuggling

Kevin Quinn
By Kevin Quinn

Reporter

Published 2nd Apr 2025, 04:45 BST

In our latest monthly courts round-up, we look at 11 criminals sentenced at Edinburgh’s courts in March.

Sentences were handed down for crimes including sexual assault, drugs smuggling, murder, and historic sex abuse at a children’s home.

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A man who caused “fear and alarm” was sentenced to 12 months in jail in connection with sexual offences which happened near the Water of Leith walkway in Edinburgh.

A former Miss Scotland was convicted of biting bouncers during a drunken racist outburst at a rugby tournament in Edinburgh.

And, a 25-year-old man was convicted of murder and an attempted murder in Edinburgh two years ago.

Brandon Miller was arrested following a search of his home on September 20 last year where officers seized electronic equipment that contained indecent images of children. On February 11, he was convicted of various offences, including sexual assault, the possession, taking and distributing of indecent images of children and inciting another person to commit sexual offences against a child. Miller was sentenced to two years in jail at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, March 10. Detective Inspector Adrian Ure of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: "Brandon Miller showed utter contempt for the child victims and the horrific sexual abuse they suffered in the images and videos he was taking, viewing and distributing. "He may have thought the internet provides anonymity and his appalling offending would go undetected. His arrest and sentence show this is not the case and no matter what steps you have taken to avoid detection, you cannot hide behind a computer."

5. Man caught with child abuse images

Brandon Miller was arrested following a search of his home on September 20 last year where officers seized electronic equipment that contained indecent images of children. On February 11, he was convicted of various offences, including sexual assault, the possession, taking and distributing of indecent images of children and inciting another person to commit sexual offences against a child. Miller was sentenced to two years in jail at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, March 10. Detective Inspector Adrian Ure of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: "Brandon Miller showed utter contempt for the child victims and the horrific sexual abuse they suffered in the images and videos he was taking, viewing and distributing. "He may have thought the internet provides anonymity and his appalling offending would go undetected. His arrest and sentence show this is not the case and no matter what steps you have taken to avoid detection, you cannot hide behind a computer." | Julie Bull

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A former social worker who sexually abused several boys at a Barnardo’s residential home in East Lothian was jailed and placed on the sex offenders register. Peter Livingstone carried out a “depraved” campaign of physical and sexual abuse while he was employed at the charity’s Tyneholm House in Pencaitland in the 1980s. Livingstone, 67, indecently assaulted one victim by massaging his naked buttocks and touching his the boy’s penis and testicles on several occasions. The former residential social worker also groped the testicles of a second child, instructed him to masturbate in his presence and fondled himself, all between April 1981 and November 1982. Livingstone was found to have attacked a third boy by seizing and dragging him by the hair, forcing him to remove his clothing and making him stand naked facing the corner of a room at the care home. He denied all the allegations against him but was found guilty by a jury of six offences of assault, indecent assault and using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices following an eight day trial. Livingstone returned to the dock for sentencing on March 14 where a sheriff said he had been in “the position of the highest trust” and told him he had “betrayed that trust for your own depraved ends”. Livingstone, of Clermiston, Edinburgh, was jailed for 30 months and was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

6. Historic sex abuse at children's home

A former social worker who sexually abused several boys at a Barnardo’s residential home in East Lothian was jailed and placed on the sex offenders register. Peter Livingstone carried out a “depraved” campaign of physical and sexual abuse while he was employed at the charity’s Tyneholm House in Pencaitland in the 1980s. Livingstone, 67, indecently assaulted one victim by massaging his naked buttocks and touching his the boy’s penis and testicles on several occasions. The former residential social worker also groped the testicles of a second child, instructed him to masturbate in his presence and fondled himself, all between April 1981 and November 1982. Livingstone was found to have attacked a third boy by seizing and dragging him by the hair, forcing him to remove his clothing and making him stand naked facing the corner of a room at the care home. He denied all the allegations against him but was found guilty by a jury of six offences of assault, indecent assault and using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices following an eight day trial. Livingstone returned to the dock for sentencing on March 14 where a sheriff said he had been in “the position of the highest trust” and told him he had “betrayed that trust for your own depraved ends”. Livingstone, of Clermiston, Edinburgh, was jailed for 30 months and was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. | Police Scotland

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Dylan Curran, 25, was convicted of murder and attempted murder on March 14 following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. On Friday, 2 June 2023, police were called to attend a report of a disturbance on Leith Street near to the junction with Greenside Row. Peter Mullen, aged 30, was found with serious injuries and was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he died a short time later. Police subsequently arrested and charged Dylan Curran, 25, in connection with the death. And on Friday, 14 March, 2025, he was convicted of murder following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Curran was also convicted of the attempted murder of a 43-year-old man during the same incident. He will be sentenced at a later date.

7. Convicted of murder and attempted murder

Dylan Curran, 25, was convicted of murder and attempted murder on March 14 following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. On Friday, 2 June 2023, police were called to attend a report of a disturbance on Leith Street near to the junction with Greenside Row. Peter Mullen, aged 30, was found with serious injuries and was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he died a short time later. Police subsequently arrested and charged Dylan Curran, 25, in connection with the death. And on Friday, 14 March, 2025, he was convicted of murder following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Curran was also convicted of the attempted murder of a 43-year-old man during the same incident. He will be sentenced at a later date. | Police Scotland

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A Chinese national who was caught smuggling drugs into the country at Edinburgh Airport was jailed on March 18. Ming Yam Sze flew from Hong Kong to Dubai with a large consignment of cannabis before transferring flight and flying into the capital earlier this year. Sze, 24, was making his way through airport security when he was challenged by Border Force officials at around 7.10pm on January 16. His luggage was seized and searched and was found to hold 22.2 kilos of the Class B drug that had a total value of £84,740. Sze was arrested and charged and was remanded in custody when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court four days later. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis at Edinburgh Airport when he appeared at a court hearing in February and was back in the dock for sentencing last month. Sheriff Alistair Noble marked the smuggling offence by sentencing Sze to a 12 month custodial term.

8. Cannabis smuggling at airport

A Chinese national who was caught smuggling drugs into the country at Edinburgh Airport was jailed on March 18. Ming Yam Sze flew from Hong Kong to Dubai with a large consignment of cannabis before transferring flight and flying into the capital earlier this year. Sze, 24, was making his way through airport security when he was challenged by Border Force officials at around 7.10pm on January 16. His luggage was seized and searched and was found to hold 22.2 kilos of the Class B drug that had a total value of £84,740. Sze was arrested and charged and was remanded in custody when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court four days later. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis at Edinburgh Airport when he appeared at a court hearing in February and was back in the dock for sentencing last month. Sheriff Alistair Noble marked the smuggling offence by sentencing Sze to a 12 month custodial term. | Stock

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