Pensioner jailed for two years for historical sex offence with child

John Swan, 82, from Jedburgh pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday to lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour towards the youngster.

His not guilty pleas to indecent behaviour towards an under-age teenage girl and another charge of indecent assault were accepted by the Crown during the course of a jury trial.

In addition to the sentence of 24 months imprisonment, Swan was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

In 2016, Swan was jailed for nearly three years after admitting sexually abusing a young girl over a two-year period starting when she was eight.

He also pled guilty to sexually assaulting a woman in her mid-20s with learning difficulties.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard at the time that the offences against the young girl started when he was "play fighting" with her in his home but ended up lying on top of the child.

The court was told how on, separate occasions, he touched the young girl indecently, simulated sexual intercourse and exposed himself to her.

The incidents were first reported to police in 2005 after she confided in a relative.

He was interviewed, but eventually released without charge.

However, he was reported again in 2014 after the young woman with learning difficulties told a relative that Swan had touched her.

When Swan discovered the police wanted to speak to him again he took a substantial overdose and was in hospital for several days.

He was sentenced to 24 months after he admitted lewd and libidinous practices towards the girl from 1998 to 2000.

He also received a further 10 months for sexually assaulting the woman with learning difficulties in 2014.