Mums tell of horror at watching paedophile accused of trying to snatch their daughters walk free from court
The court in Falkirk heard that Bermingham, 51, had condoms, sweets and sleeping pills on him after being arrested. However a not proven verdict was returned by the jury on Thursday
HORRIFIED parents watched on as a convicted sex offender who was accused of trying to abduct their young daughters walked free from court.
This week a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh said they could not prove John Bermingham, 51, tried to snatch the girls from a residential street in Falkirk.
The parents of the two young girls - who cannot be named from legal reasons - now claim they live in fear.
One of the girl's mums told The Daily Record: "Telling her he’s free is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
"She’s so scared and doesn’t want to go outside in case he comes back for her. Even I can’t know she’s safe when he’s out there."
The other mum said her daughter suffers from nightmares since reporting the alleged incident to the police.
She added: “Our lives have been torn apart and the emotional strain has been horrendous.”
It was claimed that the girls were offered £5 by Bermingham to help him find his lost jacket.
He allegedly told them about a house in the woods containing treats.
Witness Viper MacDonald said that he saw Bermingham with the girls and intervened.
The court heard that Bermingham had condoms, sweets and sleeping pills on him after being arrested.
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However a not proven verdict was returned by the jury on Thursday.
Jurors had not been told about Bermingham's previous two convictions of sexual assaults - one on an 11-year-old girl, and the other on an 18-year-old woman.
Both attacks took place within an hour, in July 2002.
One of the mums added: “We’ve lost all faith in a justice system that lets a paedophile’s previous history be hidden in cases like this. We believe it’s one of the most crucial pieces of evidence.”
Bermingham broke down in tears in the dock as Judge Lord Beckett told him: “By the jury’s verdict you have been acquitted of the charges before you.”
The verdict prompted tearful relatives of the little girls to sarcastically shout: “Well done.”
They also shouted: “Wait until you find out who he is. He’s a human beast.”
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