Inverclyde man jailed for sex attack on 8 year-old girl

A convicted rapist who attacked an eight-year-old girl in her bedroom has been jail.

52 year-old James Morrow was on the sex offenders' register at the time of the serious sexual assault because as he had been jailed in England for 14-years in the mid-90s for rape and four indecent assaults.

Morrow, from Gourock, was given an extended sentence for attacking the youngster at her home in January this year.

He will be held in custody for a punishment period of six years and 10 months, reduced from 10 years, followed by seven years subject to recall on licence.

The High Court at Livingston heard that the child had been asked to tidy her bedroom but had initially refused.

Morrow, who was known to the girl and her family, was in her home and offered to help.

It was then that he took the opportunity to prey on the youngster.

The terrified child asked him: "What are you doing?" but he said: "Nothing."

It was only after he left the house later that the girl first told her brother then her "very upset" mum what he'd done.

The girl was described as being "bubbly and talkative" before the attack.

But now she refused to go back into the room where she was raped and was "quiet and subdued".

Her mum wrote a victim impact statement on her behalf which was handed to the judge, but no further details were revealed.

Tony Graham, defending, said there was little that could be said in mitigation apart from the fact that Morrow had pled guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He submitted that the public would be amply protected by the imposition of an extended sentence, followed by strict parole conditions governing contact with minors and restrictions on internet use.

Passing sentence, Judge Lord Burns told Morrow: "You abused this girl when she was eight years of age and you appear to have thought about this, fantasising over it for some time until the opportunity arose for you to abuse her.

"You were on the sex offenders' register at the time and you have a significantly analogous conviction for which you received 14 years imprisonment.

"As accepted by Mr Graham, you will remain a serious risk to women and young children for a long time."

Lord Burns added that Morrow had taken advantage of the fact that he knew the girl's family was in a "vulnerable" situation at the time.

He said: "The abuse you perpetrated on this girl represents a serious breach of trust and it occurred in her home and in her bedroom.

"As a result of your actions she has apparently lost the ability to trust adults.

"Your actions have had a devastating effect on her life and will continue to do so in the future."

He told Morrow his name would remain on the sex offenders' register indefinitely because he was assessed as being at high risk of re-offending.

If appropriate, a sexual offences prevention order to further protect the public would be sought by Police Scotland on his eventual release