Thomas Byrne jailed over rape bid on teenager in Airdrie
A man who was convicted of attempting to rape a 13-year-old girl 35 years ago has been jailed for 30 months.
Thomas Byrne, 61, committed the offence at a house in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, between April 1979 and April 1980 when he was aged 26.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that after a party he took off his clothes and got into bed with two teenage girls and attempted to rape one of them.
Byrne, who denied the offence, was also placed on the sex offenders' register.
Sentencing Byrne, judge John Beckett QC told him: "There was no violence involved and the complainer was able to get away from you. However, you got into bed with two girls and attempted to rape one of them.
"You were not a child when you sexually assaulted her. That you seem to have been affected by alcohol is not an excuse. It is necessary to protect children."