Mark Newman began committing sex crimes when he was 13 years old. The jury convicted him of five charges, four of which were unanimous verdicts.

On hearing the verdict Newman stated that the proceedings were ‘a total farce’ and that the jury had been misled.

However, at sentencing his defence counsel told the court that Newman regretted the comments and apologised on his behalf.

The offences took place between August 1972 and December 1987. He was convicted of rape, assaulting a teenage with intent to rape and three offences for indecent assault.

At trial Newman told the court that he had not committed the offences. However the Advocate Depute stated: “The evidence you have heard shows there was a clear course of conduct being systematically carried out by the accused.”

In sentencing him Lord Beckett said: “These are serious crimes. You exploited the vulnerability of the children you abused.”

Newman was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.