MONSTER’S CAMPAIGN OF ABUSE LASTED FOR 11 YEARS

A Paisley paedophile has been convicted of raping three schoolgirls – including an eight-year-old – over 11 years.

Sex beast William Wingate, 58, was also found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of sexually abusing another two girls.

His offences were committed in Paisley and Johnstone from 1986 to 1997.

Wingate raped his first victim in a house in Paisley when she was eight, but he began sexually abusing her when she was just six.

He raped his second victim on various occasions when she was aged between eight and 11.

This offence was committed at houses in Paisley and at a wooded area in the town.

The vile paedophile raped his third victim when she was aged between 12 and 15 at a house in Glasgow, a house in Johnstone and in a car in various roads in Paisley, Johnstone and Glasgow.

Wingate denied all the charges against him and branded his victims “liars”, claiming they were making it all up for money.

Advocate depute Steven Borthwick told the court, after the verdicts were given, that Wingate had served four years for rape after being convicted in 1981.

He also has a lengthy record for drugs offences, breach of the peace and violence.

Wingate was yesterday described by police as an “opportunistic predator”.

Detective Inspector Louise Harvie, from the Public Protection Unit based in Renfrew, said: