Pensioner faces jail after being found guilty of sexually assaulting young girls

A pensioner who denied sexually assaulting three young girls more than 34 years ago is facing a lengthy prison sentence.

James Fearn, 70, picked on the three youngsters, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at a house in Dundee between February 1977 and January 1983.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Fearn picked on his first victim in February 1977 when she was just nine years old by raping her.

He then continued to have sex against her will on various occasions until January 1983.

Fearn, who worked for Dundee City Council before retiring, then repeatedly sexually assaulted his second victim between June 1977 and December 1981. She was just 11 when Fearn started abusing her.

Fearn’s third victim was just 12 when he repeatedly sexually abused her between February 1977 and November 1980.

Police finally arrested Fearn after his victims plucked up enough courage to contact them about his wrongdoing.

He was brought to court and denied the allegations.

Giving evidence, Fearn, of Arklay Terrace, Dundee, said: “I never did anything. I never touched these three girls.”

But jurors didn’t believe him and convicted him of rape and sexual assault charges.

The verdict came at the end of a trial in which Fearn had maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Speaking after conviction, prosecutor Peter Ferguson QC told the court that Fearn had one previous conviction for assault.

Mr Ferguson said: “He was convicted at the burgh court on April 24 1972 and was jailed for 60 days.”

Fearn’s advocate, Edward Targowski QC, said the court would have to obtain reports about his client’s character.

He said he would speak on behalf of Fearn at that hearing.

Judge Lord Burns remanded Fearn in custody and deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports.

Fearn will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on April 24.