A predatory pensioner who preyed on two young children for nearly a decade has been jailed for four years.
Alan Williams, 74, sexually abused the brother and sister after befriending their father, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
He was found guilty after trial of lewd and indecent acts against the youngsters at locations in Perthshire and Angus between June 1999 and June 2008.
Sheriff William Wood told Williams: “It is beyond comment that your conduct as described was despicable, disgusting and predatory.
“These were children to whom you were in a position of trust.
“You were a trusted family friend.”
He said: “To that extent, you were able to get close to the family.
“But you systematically abused that trust for over a substantial period.
“Those who heard the evidence of the children involved could feel nothing but sympathy for them.
“Clearly, they had ongoing issues that could be linked to the abuse that they suffered at your hands.”
He said: “I take into account the ages of these children at the time – the youngest was seven when you first got your hands on him – and the extent of the abuse.
“Given all the factors, custody is inevitable.”
Nine years of attacks
Williams, of Walker Court, Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire, was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
He started abusing his male victim when he was just seven years old.
Williams, who still maintains his innocence, attacked him on numerous occasions between 1999 and 2005.
Jurors heard he pinned the boy down, striking him on the buttocks, pushing him out of a bed and carrying out an invasive sex act, all to his injury.
The offences took place in Glenisla, Blairgowrie and Friockheim, Angus.
Williams was also found guilty of two further charges relating to sexual assaults on the girl, who was aged nine when the first incident took place in June 2004.
He was convicted of two charges of serious sexual assaults upon the girl on various occasions until 2008.
A ‘low’ risk
Solicitor John Macleod, representing Williams, argued that prison was “not necessary” for his client.
“The risk level has been assessed as low,” he said. “There are no public protection issues involved here.”
He added: “The offending itself is unpleasant, but as these things go it is not as serious as some I have seen.”
Williams showed no emotion as he was led downstairs to begin his four year jail term.
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