Beast repeatedly raped child

A sex beast has been convicted of repeatedly raping a young girl when she was aged between seven and 12 at various addresses in Rutherglen.

John Costello, 43, from Southampton, Hampshire, was also found guilty of sexually abusing the young girl and another girl when she was aged between 10 and 15.

The offences were committed at various addresses in Rutherglen as well as Shotts and Livingston between 1996 and 2000.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that father-of-four Costello showed his young rape victim adult pornographic websites and induced her to take part in sexual conversations with adults on internet chat rooms.

Sick Costello also made her look at pornographic magazines and made her adopt the sexual poses she saw in them and filmed her taking part in sexual activity with him.

Costello made his other victim play indecent computer games and he persuaded her to put a provocative photograph on her MSN profile.

Judge Lord Clark told Costello:“You have been convicted of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards two young girls and the rape of one of them on a number of occasions.

“These are serious and despicable crimes.”

Prosecutor Peter McCormack revealed that Costello has a previous conviction for possession of indecent images of children at Glasgow Sheriff Court for which he received a two year sentence and a similar conviction from Aylesbury Crown Court in 2006 for which he received a three-year sentence.

Mr McCormack added:“Mr Costello lives in Southampton and works with Marks and Spencer.”

Lord Clark deferred sentence on Costello until next month for background reports and remanded him in custody. He also placed Costello on the sex offenders’register.

Defence counsel Geoffrey Forbes will give his plea in mitigation then.