A BABY-SITTER WHO KNELT IN FRONT OF A SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND PERFORMED A SEX ACT HAS BEEN JAILED FOR THREE YEARS.
A BABY-SITTER who knelt in front of a six-year-old girl and performed a sex act has been jailed for three years.Greenock Sheriff Court heard Neil Paton, 44, committed a similar offence 16 years ago while living with a family in Manchester.
Cries of "beast" rang from the public benches as Paton was taken away to serve three years behind bars.
He will receive additional supervision under licence for a further three years after his release, as well as being placed on the Sex Offenders" Register for an indefinite period.
Sheriff Vincent Canavan told Paton: 'In view of what you did, and the fact you have committed a similar offence with another child, I see no other sentence apart from custody being appropriate.' Depute fiscal Tom Smyth said: 'The offence came to light after the girl told her mother something had taken place.
He was interviewed by police and made full admissions as to what he had done.' Yesterday, Paton, of Maxwell Street, Port Glasgow, pleaded guilty to using lewd and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the girl.
Paton, represented by QC Joe Barr, admitted performing the sex act on a single occasion between New Year"s Day and 2 October 2007.
Mr Barr told how Paton had become a prisoner in his own home since pleading guilty to the sickening crime in court last month.
He said: 'There is no doubt what Mr Paton did was an abhorrent act and he has had a considerable amount of abuse in the community as a result, including the front door of his house being daubed with graffiti.
He rarely goes out apart from to do some shopping.
He has asked me to apologise to the child and the child"s family for what he did.' Mr Barr added: 'A specialist report from Pathways has recommended he be placed on probation for three years and attend specialist programmes to assist his problems.
They have also assessed him as only a medium risk of re-offending.
Obviously there must also be a punishment and there is a place available for community service to ensure this is the case.'
