A CREDITON man has been jailed for historic sexual offences against two girls in Cowdenbeath, Scotland, committed more than 30 years ago when he was a teenager.

Robert Haggart, now 53, preyed on two younger children at addresses in Cowdenbeath and raped one victim.

He was 13 when he began indecently assaulting his first victim in August 1987, when she was 10 years old.

Haggart subjected the girl to repeated attacks during which he seized her by the body, pushed her to the floor and removed her lower clothing.

He kissed her on the face, bit her ear, covered her mouth with his hand and raped her.

Haggart went on to commit further indecent assaults on the victim from November 1988 in Cowdenbeath when he exposed himself, grabbed her by the hair and carried out further sex acts.

He went on to target a second victim when she was 14.

On one occasion between August 1990 and February 1991 Haggart used indecent behaviour towards the child by seizing her hand and placing it on his penis.

During a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh Haggart denied a series of charges.

However, he was convicted of three offences of rape, indecent assault and lewd and indecent behaviour.

Following the verdicts, trial judge Alison Stirling told jurors: “This has been a difficult and anxious case, having regard to the subject matter and historical nature of this trial.”

Haggart was placed on the sex offend­ers’ register and sen­tence was deferred.

He was remanded in cus­tody.

• If you have been affected by this article there is support available.

Call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.

Visit:

Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 0300 3034626

For more information, visit: www.dc.police.uk/Rape-SexualAssault