Sex attacker jailed over tag breach

A SEX attacker has been jailed for 12 months after being caught outside his home for 15 minutes.

John Bermingham was jailed for 12 years in 2001 for sex attacks on two girls - one aged just 11.

He tried to rape the 11-year-old, who was walking home from a dance class when he forced her behind a library in Newington, before forcing an 18-year-old nursing assistant into bushes just an hour later.

He lay on top of her with his hand over her mouth before the terrified teenager escaped.

Jailing father-of-five Bermingham, Lord Hamilton described the attacks as "appalling, despicable and grave".

The 43-year-old was released in 2008 after serving just half of the term.

However, yesterday he was back behind bars for breaking the terms of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (Sopo), which was designed to protect children and young girls from him.

The order prevented Bermimgham leaving his house between the hours of 9pm and 7am. His tag detected him as being outside his flat in Arnold Street, Falkirk for a period of 15 minutes.

At the town's Sheriff Court, Sheriff William Gallacher jailed him for 12 months.