A PERVERT who sexually abused a young girl throughout the 1980s has finally been jailed for his crimes.

Duncan Kerr, of Trovaig, Erskine, previously pleaded guilty to a string of offences that were carried out when his victim was aged from five to 13.

The attacks took place at properties in Erskine, Inchinnan, Bishopton and Glasgow.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how, over the years, Kerr had crossed paths with the girl but it wasn’t until last year that he was brought to justice.

He later pleaded guilty to using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour to the child on various occasions from 1982 to 1989, including tickling her, rubbing himself against her, touching her, exposing himself to her, taking photos of her and committing a sex act in front of her.

Kerr, 60, also admitted a similar charge dating from 1989 to 1990.
Described as a community man and church volunteer, Kerr appeared in the dock on Monday, when defence solicitor Gordon Ritchie told the court that Kerr apologised to his victim for the “breach of trust.”

He said: “I would suggest he has already been punished quite significantly for the offence that took place in the 1980s. He has seen this complainer on a number of occasions and, every time he sees her, he remembers his wholly-inappropriate behaviour towards her.”

Mr Ritchie said there had been no repetition of this behaviour over the past 30 years and an assessment concluded there was low risk of him reoffending.

The lawyer added: “He is not expecting to walk away from here without any punishment at all. 

“This is an extremely serious offence but I would submit it’s not in the public interest to lock him up. He has demonstrated genuine remorse. This is not someone who produces crocodile tears.”

Jailing Kerr for a total of 32 months, Sheriff Thomas McCartney told him: “Having regard to the very serious nature of the conduct to which you have pled guilty, the long period of time over which it took place, the breach of trust, the impact it will have inevitably had on the victim, there is no alternative to imprisonment.”

His name will also be on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.