Hamilton man guilty of historic sexual abuse

A former house parent has been convicted of historic sexual abuse of vulnerable teenagers at a Lanarkshire children's home.

55 year-old Ian Sharp from Hamilton carried out the abuse of three boys and two girls between 1987 and 1993.

During his trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Sharp tried to blame two convicted paedophiles – one of whom is dead – who worked at the home for what happened.

One victim told of how Sharp plied her with alcohol at the children's home and at his then home at Scott Place, Bellshill before touching her on the breasts and buttocks and making sexual remarks to her. She was aged between 12 and15.

Another woman said that Sharp plied her with alcohol, make sexual and offensive comments to her and touched her on the buttocks and the legs. These offences also took place at the children's home and Sharp's house.

He was also convicted of touching three teenage boys on their private parts.

Sharp was cleared of attempting to rape a teenage girl and having unnatural carnal connection with a teenage boy.

In evidence Sharp denied all the charges against him.

His defence QC Mark Stewart asked him: “It is being suggested you plied young people with alcohol in what would be described as a reckless fashion,” and he replied: “I couldn't agree with that at all.”

Sharp claimed he never had alcohol in his house because his father was an alcoholic and he had seen how drink can affect people.

Mr Stewart said: “Witnesses have said that male children would be grabbed by the testicles by you, did you do that,” and he replied: “No. I can categorically say I did not do that."

He also denied providing vodka and other alcohol and added:

“They make it sound like party central, my life was quite boring.”

Prosecutor Murdo McTaggart said to Sharp: “These were children with difficult family lives very vulnerable and you abused them,” and he replied: " No that's not true I was in a position of trust and no way was I going to break that trust.”

Mr McTaggart said: You are blaming other people for what you did," and Sharp said: "Absolutely not."

Judge Graham Buchanan told Sharp: “The charges of which you have been convicted are significantly less serious than those you originally faced. But, they are nevertheless serious matters, given your position of trust at the children's home at the time.”

Sharp was placed on the sex offenders' register and granted bail.

Sentence was deferred until October 29 at the High Court in Aberdeen.

Judge Buchanan said: “All options, including prison, will be open to the court.”

Mr Blair, who was also a house parent at the children's home, walked free from court.

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