Man admits string of indecency charges

Millbank is led away from court by police

A 41-year-old man has been convicted of a series of indecent practices against young girls across Scotland.

Joseph Millbank, from Perthshire, pleaded guilty to the charges at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The court heard that the incidents involved 35 girls -some as young as three years old.

His conviction comes after one of the biggest child abuse investigations ever mounted by Scottish police.

A massive investigation was involved

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Yule, who led the investigation, said: "Millbank was a real danger to little girls."

At the High Court, on Wednesday, a reluctant judge was urged to look at the video clips and still photos found on Millbank's lap-top computer.

Advocate depute Derek Batchelor QC, prosecuting, told Lord McCluskey: "Have a look at at least some of them because in my estimation it is only when one sees the video images that one can appreciate the full enormity of what this man did to these children."

Millbank took the pictures as he travelled the country as a freelance shop-fitter, setting up promotional displays for major stores.

As the details of his offences were given in court, Millbank stared straight ahead and betrayed no emotion.

Words cannot describe what any rational human being would think about what Millbank did to little girls

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Yule

But families of his victims sobbed in the public benches and some left the courtroom in tears.

Afterwards, the distraught 36-year-old mother of one five-year-old girl from Dundee, said: "I felt sick. I thought I was going to pass out."

She added: "I hate him. I could say words much stronger but I hate him."

The mother said her daughter still had nightmares and the family were being helped by victim support organisations.

DCI Yule said some of the evidence was "pretty horrific" but the task of the police was to remain focused and bring a case to court.

"Words cannot describe what any rational human being would think about what Millbank did to little girls," he added, paying tribute to the bravery of the victims and the way they had assisted police.

Sentence will be passed next month

It was, he said, the biggest child abuse investigation in Scotland because of the number of victims and the number of places where Millbank operated.

Millbank had told police nothing of his reasons for committing the offences - or why he persuaded victims to dress up in a pink dress.

Millbank was remanded in custody until sentencing next month, to be seen by a psychologist.

He should have appeared in court last week, but was found unconscious in his prison cell after taking an overdose.

Defence advocate Celia Sanderson said she was very worried about his suicidal tendencies.