Pensioner jailed after 20 years of sexual abuse against girls

Twice down the years, police were given information about offences against girls committed by William Burns, 67, but nothing was done to investigate the claims.

On another occasion, a runaway teenager was found in his home, but the authorities allowed her to remain there overnight.

Burns, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in recent days, supplied some of his victims with drink, cigarettes and cannabis before abusing them.

Jailing him at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Turnbull said: "As an adult male, you conducted a campaign of sexual exploitation of young girls over a period of 20 years, from when you were in your mid-40s until your mid-60s.

"You targeted girls in their early teens...your conduct was callous and calculating and you went to considerable lengths to ingratiate yourself into the company of girls. It is difficult to think of worse conduct by an adult towards children. Your age provides no basis for the exercising of mercy on my part."

Lord Turnbull said the sentence would have been 16 years, but Burns was entitled to a discount for pleading guilty. He added that it would be up to Government ministers to decide what to do with Burns, were his medical condition to worsen.

Burns, of Ord Place, Muir of Ord, Easter Ross - twice married and the father of grown-up children - admitted a series of indecency charges, which stopped short of sexual intercourse, between 1988 and January this year. He also allowed two men to have unlawful sex in his home with one of his nine victims.

Advocate-depute Ashley Edwards, said Burns often went to a play park next to his home and spoke to youths gathered there.

"On occasions he would supply them with alcohol which he would bring with him to the park," she said.

Defence counsel Frances McMenamin, QC, said Burns had been diagnosed with throat cancer and "is not a well man."

She said he had expressed remorse and asked for his apologies to be conveyed to the victims.