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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Emylie Howie

Paisley paedophile faces 'merciless prison bullying' as he's jailed for abusing little girl

A little girl abused by a teenage pervert for years reported him to police when he continued to harass her into adulthood.

David Craig faced justice yesterday when he was jailed for putting his victim, who was a primary school at the time, through years of sexual abuse.

The now 30 year old, was just 13 when he first assaulted the child as she watched cartoons, the Paisley Daily Express reports.

READ MORE: Little girl abused for years by pervert who wanted 'to have a relationship' with her

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the abuse took place in the late 2000s and lasted around six years.

Craig was finally outed when his victim, now an adult received messages from him while on a night out and he was sentenced to 14 months in prison by Sheriff Eoin McGinty yesterday.

Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald previously told the court how the abused started.

He explained: "At this time, she was in the living room watching cartoons.

"David Craig came in and sat beside her.

"She felt awkward and so picked up her covers and went and lay down at the opposite end of the couch and pretended to go to sleep.

"The accused manoeuvred himself under the girl's covers and began touching (himself inappropriately).

"She knew what he was doing, but she kept her eyes shut pretending to be asleep and turned on her side."

Court heard the victim recalled similar incidents happening for a number of years.

Craig would also climb into the girl's bed and carry. out a sex act on himself.

And, on multiple occasions over the years, Craig attempted to rape the youngster.

The court heard Craig was "fat" and during one sickening incident he lay on top of her so she could not move.

Court heard the victim challenged Craig about the abuse years later.

Mr McDonald explained: "While on a night out she began receiving messages from the accused and he asked, 'ask anything if u wanna xx'.

"He repeated this a number of times, attaching kissing emojis.

"She replied, 'See when we were younger why did you do all that stuff? Just be honest.'

"Craig replied, 'I love u x'.

"She again replied, 'Tell me, so why did you do it?'

"And he responded, I love you. Can't believe am saying this but I get jealous when I see with new bfs x'.

"The victim revealed what was happening to someone and the police were contacted."

Defence agent Mr Barr told the court that at the time of the offences Craig "saw the victim as someone he could have a relationship with", but explained he suffers mentally.

Mr Barr added: "He was a very young man at the time with this starting when he was 13 and finishing when he was 19.

"But by then he was at an age where he knew what he was doing was wrong.

"He lives in social isolation and has serious personal difficulties with himself.

"He is a young man who would not cope with a prison sentence and would be subject to merciless bullying."

Sentencing, Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: "I've read the report and the previous report that was prepared on your behalf. I've listened carefully to what Mr Barr has said on your behalf, but the facts remain the same that you engaged in a serious course of conduct of sexual offences over six years, and at the latter part, you were 19 and the complainer was very young."

Sheriff McGinty jailed Craig for 14 months reduced from 21 months.

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