David Morris, 68, admits abusing young girl in Ayrshire
A pensioner who admitted sexually abusing a young girl during the 1970s and 80s has been jailed for 34 months.
David Morris, 68, began attacking the girl when she was just five. The abuse continued at two addresses in East Ayrshire between 1976 and 1986.
He was caught after his victim, now aged 43, told others about the abuse.
At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, father-of-three Morris pleaded guilty to charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour and sexual assault.
The court heard how the girl suffered pain during the attacks, was in fear and felt so embarrassed that she never told anyone.
'Disgusting and deplorable'
The youngster's mother thought she was being bullied at school but she told her: "I've got a problem that I want to sort out myself."
Although she eventually told others about the decade of abuse, police were not alerted for some time and the woman, now a mother-of-two, became an alcoholic.
When confronted by police, Morris told officers: "How sorry can I be? It was so stupid and there's nothing I can say."
Sheriff Seith Ireland told Morris the offences were so "disgusting and deplorable" that he had considered sending him to the High Court for sentencing.