A twisted Paisley predator who subjected a young girl to years of sex abuse has been jailed for over a year.
David Craig, 30, repeatedly targeted his victim when she was a primary school age child.
The abuse took place in Erskine for a period of around six years in the late 2000s.
He was finally snared a decade later when his victim told someone about her horrific ordeal and the cops were alerted.
Yesterday at Paisley Sheriff Court, Sheriff Eoin McGinty jailed the beast from Glen Street in the town, for 14 months stating is was the “only appropriate sentence.”
Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald previously told the court, Craig abused the girl as she watched cartoons.
Mr McDonald 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.
“He immediately turned himself so he was facing into her back and began grinding (himself against her).
“She lay still and pretended to be sleeping."
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Court heard the victim recalled similar incidents happening for a number of years.
Craig would also climb into the girl’s bed and masturbate.
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.
Mr McDonald added: “The accused groped initially over her clothing and then under.
“He then performed oral sex on her.”
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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