Rapist jailed for molesting five girls over 11-year period

A convicted rapist who preyed on young girls during a campaign of sexual abuse has been jailed for 13 years.

William Wingate, from Lockerbie in Dumfriesshire, molested five girls and subjected three of the victims to rape ordeals over 11 years.

Judge John Beckett told the 58-year-old yesterday at the High Court in Edinburgh: “It is plain that such offending has terrible, long-term consequences for your victims.”

Wingate had denied a string of charges of sexual abuse committed against his victims, the youngest of whom was aged six, between 1986 and 1997, but was earlier found guilty of ten charges.

He carried out the abuse at houses in Paisley, Johnstone and Glasgow as well as in cars and at a wooded area. He made indecent advances to his first victim when she was aged nine.