Falkirk crime: Man who abused girl, 10, in Laurieston jailed for ten years

Gary Nicholson targeted four children who were molested by him at addresses in Stirlingshire, West Lothian and Fife.

The sex offender, who has previously been convicted of sexual crimes, subjected two of the victims to rape ordeals.

Nicholson, 56, denied a series of charges during a trial earlier this year but was found guilty of six offences of indecent conduct, sexual assault and rape involving four girls aged between six and 15 in November.

His youngest victim was subjected to repeated abuse at locations in Livingston, in West Lothian, between July and December in 1981 when Nicholson was aged just 14.

A second girl was aged 10 when Nicholson preyed on her at a house in Laurieston and a caravan parked in a street in the town between August 1993 and April 1995.

During the abuse of the child he removed her lower clothing and touched her leg and buttocks.

A nine-year-old girl was also subjected to abuse by him at a house in Kirkcaldy, in Fife, when he put his hand under the child's clothing and touched her.

Nicholson sexually assaulted a fourth girl at a further house in Kirkcaldy and digitally penetrated her when she was aged ten between March 2015 and March 2016. He later abused the victim again in 2020 when he repeatedly touched her legs and breasts and on two occasions raped her.

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh that the impact of his crimes on his victims was "wide ranging and life changing".

Lady Drummond said: "You have expressed no remorse or empathy towards these children."

The judge said: "For offences of this gravity the only sentence that is appropriate is imprisonment."

She ordered that Nicholson, a prisoner in Perth jail, should be under supervision for a further three year period.

Nicholson will be on licence in the community during that time and can be returned to prison if he breaches its conditions.

The judge said Nicholson had "a challenging childhood" and issues with alcohol.

Defence counsel Mark Stewart KC told the court that Nicholson maintained his innocence of the sexual crimes he was earlier convicted of committing.

Nicholson, who followed the sentencing via a video link to prison, was placed on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period.

As Nicolson began his prison term, police welcomed the sentencing adding it was a “complex and disturbing case”.

Detective Constable David Adamson, of Fife’s Public Protection Unit, said: “I welcome today’s sentencing and hope that the victims can take some comfort in knowing that Nicholson will spend a considerable amount of time in prison.

“This was a complex and disturbing case and it is right that Nicholson now has to face the consequences of his disgraceful actions.

“Police Scotland is wholly committed to tackling all cases of child abuse, regardless of when the crimes occurred, and we will continue to work alongside our partners to support any victims and ensure offenders are brought to justice.”