A FORTH VALLEY man has been convicted of "despicable abuse" against young children over a three year period.

Last Wednesday, February 2, Ryan Scott was found guilty of a number of serious sexual offences, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 35-year-old was convicted of four charges under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 against children under the age of 13, and against a child between the ages of 13 and 16.

His offending took place between 2017 and 2020 across the Forth Valley area.

DS Craig Faulds, of Forth Valley's public protection unit, said: "Ryan Scott has been found guilty of several serious offences against young children and he will now be held accountable, by the courts and the justice system, for his actions.

"Police Scotland will always thoroughly investigate such kinds of serious offences as they are reported to us.

"We will tirelessly pursue perpetrators to disrupt their activities while also remaining committed to protecting victims, as well as those at risk of becoming victims in our communities.

"I would encourage any person who has suffered this type of despicable abuse to report it to Police Scotland who are committed to bringing these perpetrators to justice and supporting victims through the criminal justice process."

Scott has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month at Inverness High Court.