Paedophile who preyed on children young as 4 jailed for life

A paedophile who preyed on children as young as four over a 44-year period has been jailed for life.

Bryan Grim es ,58, from L even in Fife, was described in court documents as an“incorrigible, psychopathic sexual predator”.

He was convicted of attempting to rape a 10 -year- old girl and sex - ually assaulting five others and one boy. The High Court in Glasgow heard he had blamed his victims for the abuse, in one instance claiming “she started it”.

Grim es was convicted of nine sexual offences, including attempted rape and lewd and libidinous practices – committed in Anstruther, Methil, Leven, and Cumnock between 1975 and 2017. The court was told that the offences came to light after a report was received by Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit in Fife in October 2017.

Grimes admitted during his own evidence at an earlier trial at the High Court in Livingston that he had twice kissed one of the under-age girls on her face and touched her sexually.

He also admitted touching another girl, but had denied some of the more serious allegations. During sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow, the court was told Grimes had a previous conviction from 1995 for sexually abusing two children.

Placing Grimes on the lifelong restriction order, and ordering him to serve at least six years, Judge Lady Rae told him it would be up to the Parole Board to decide if he was ever to be released.