A dad who was found guilty by a jury of historic sexual assaults on two children shouted “I hope you all sleep tonight” in court as he was lead to the cells today.
Twisted Paul Cochrane, from Linwood, shook his head in disbelief, stating “unbelievable” as the jury at the High Court in Paisley found him guilty by majority of four vile sexual assaults on children in the 1980s.
Cochrane, 50, was found guilty of forcing a young girl - aged between nine and ten years old - to perform a sex act on him on two occasions between October 3, 1984 and October 2, 1986, at an address in Paisley’s Oliphant Crescent.
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The jury also found Cochrane, of Ellon Drive, guilty of using “lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour” towards the same child by forcing her to perform oral sex in exchange for money, also at an address in Oliphant Crescent.
Cochrane, who was sentenced to eight years behind bars in 1991 at the High Court for assault, robbery and possession of a firearm was also found guilty by a jury of using “lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour” towards a young boy, then aged between four and five years old, by exposing and touching his private parts in the young boy’s presence.
The court also heard Cochrane had also previously spent a period behind bars after being convicted of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
As the jury confirmed their verdict, Cochrane sat sobbing in the dock stating: "Unreal. Unbelievable."
Judge Simon Collins KC deferred sentence for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report but stated, “a custodial sentence seems inevitable.”
Judge Simon Collins KC remanded the beast in custody, stating “take him away” as Cochrane shouted to family members in the public gallery “I love you, look after your wee sister. Unbelievable.”
As he was handcuffed and lead down to the cells, Cochrane shook his head as he sobbed, stating to jury members: “I hope you all sleep well tonight. This is unbelievable.”
Cochrane was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on October 10.
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