Michael McNeill jailed for raping young siblings
A man has been jailed for 14 years for repeatedly raping a young brother and sister in a campaign of abuse that began 30 years ago.
Michael McNeill, 56, from Greenock, was convicted of raping the girl between 1982 and 1989. The abuse started when she was just three years old.
He was also convicted of raping her brother between 1981 and 1989. The abuse began when the boy was three.
McNeill was also placed on the sex offenders' register.
At the High Court in Glasgow, McNeill was also convicted of sexual abusing the girl and making sexual remarks towards her between May 1982 and December 1989.
The former shipyard worker was also found guilty of sexually abusing the boy between November 1981 and March 1989.
In evidence , McNeill's victims, who cannot be named, told how their lives had been destroyed by the abuse.
The woman, now aged 33, wept as she told how McNeill had raped her when she was just three years old.
The man, now aged 34, described how he had tried to take his own life and became addicted to drugs after being molested by McNeill.
Jailing the 56-year-old, judge Lord Boyd told McNeill he had been convicted of very serious offences committed against two children.
These included the rape of the girl and abuse of the boy.
Lord Boyd told McNeill he seemed to regard them as "sexual playthings" and that they had gone on to have considerable problems with drugs.
"How much of this is down to your behaviour will never be known for sure. It is clear to me, however, that at least some of the problems they have faced in later life flow from the abuse you inflicted on them."
The judge added: "Despite the conviction on each of these charges unanimously by the jury you continue to deny your responsibility for them. You show no remorse."
McNeill showed no emotion as he was led away to begin his sentence.