Man Who Abused Schoolboy Jailed For 7 Years

A man who groomed and abused a schoolboy then took him to Rangers matches to buy his silence has been jailed for seven years. Vincent Hill preyed on the child for four years starting when the youngster was only 12. Hill was only snared in 2013 when his victim revealed his ordeal to his wife leading to the police being alerted. The 60 year-old returned to the High Court in Glasgow after earlier pleading guilty to sexually and indecently assaulting the boy. Lady Scott told Hill he had "systematically abused" and "deliberately groomed" his victim. The judge said the prison term would have been eight years, but for the guilty plea. The court previously heard how the victim first got to know Hill in 1997. Hill at the time sold computer games and consoles at a car boot market in Glasgow. The boy was said have had a "chaotic life" - but Hill soon took advantage by abusing the child. It took place between 1998 and 2002 at different addresses in Paisley, Inchinnan and Erskine, all Renfrewshire. The court heard how Hill ordered the youngster "not to tell anyone". Prosecutor Shirley McKenna told how, in an attempt to keep him quiet, Hill would often take the boy to watch his favourite football team Rangers. It was only 2012 that the victim told his wife he had been sexually abused as a child. But, it was a year later before he revealed Hill was responsible. Hill, of Paisley, was eventually charged by police - 15 years after the abuse began. The court heard he later sent a text to the victim claiming he wanted to "cut a deal" and that he would plead "guilty". Hill also claimed he was "sorry" and asked for the man to "forgive" him. Miss McKenna said the abuse had a "profound effect" on the victim. This included him attempting suicide, requiring counselling, which has lead to an "impoverished" life. Maurice Smyth, defending said divorced Hill had expressed "regret" at what happened.