A BONHILL OAP who impregnated a 15-year-old girl decades ago has been jailed for five years.

Norman Duncan, 71, was convicted in September of a series of historical sexual offences against four girls aged between eight and 15, between 1968 and 1976.

Last week the pensioner appeared again at Dumbarton Sheriff Court and his lawyer said Duncan continued to argue his innocence.

Duncan, of Ladyton Estate, impregnated a girl, aged 15. Though the baby later died, DNA evidence extracted from a blood sample taken after birth was produced at court confirming Duncan was the father.

He was also convicted of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards three other girls aged around five, 12 and 14. The jury found a charge of kissing a girl under the age of 16 on the lips as not proven.

Defence advocate Owen Mullan argued some of the charges related to one-off incidents, and that in one, the victim only became aware the conduct was "not right" when looking back in retrospect.

Mr Mullan said the consequences for Duncan "could not be more devastating".

He told the court last week: "[Duncan] accepts given the verdict, a custodial sentence is inevitable.

"He does acknowledge the difficulties experiences by complainers who gave evidence at trial. He maintains he didn't act in the way described.

"He is an elderly man, obviously in poor health. His reputation is in ruins and he will spend the rest of his life, or part of it, in custody."

Sheriff Mungo Bovey QC told Duncan that one charge in particular was "opportunistic sexual abuse to those to whom you owed a duty of care and attention".

He said: "Listening to the evidence in this case, it was impossible not to conclude your conduct had a ruinous effect on the complainers."

Duncan was jailed for a total of five years, backdated to September 21. He will be on the Sex Offenders' Registry indefinitely.

Speaking after the case concluded, police said their specialist officers worked tirelessly to ensure the crimes were unearthed and justice was served.

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Cordner, from Dumbarton Police Office, led the investigation.

He said today: “Norman Duncan managed to escape justice for 40 years and I have no doubt that he believed he would never be caught, but today, he is facing the consequences of his despicable crimes.

“Duncan preyed on four young girls and subjected them to things that no child should ever have to experience.

“I would like to thank the victims for their tremendous courage in coming forward, assisting officers with their enquiries, testifying in court, and ultimately ensuring that Duncan is now behind bars. I hope their bravery gives other victims the strength to report abuse to police because our officers will do absolutely everything in their power, and utilise all available resources, to bring the person responsible to account.

“This case also sends a clear message to perpetrators of abuse – no matter how long ago your crimes were committed, you are never safe from justice – as Norman Duncan has discovered today.”