Extra jail time for sex offender

James Smith (32), formerly of Cultenhove Crescent, Grangemouth, got three years at Hamilton Sheriff Court in March after he was found guilty of abusing two youngsters.

Smith met a woman through a website in Falkirk in 2012. He began a relationship with her and subjected her son, aged four, to a sex attack.

The boy told his dad Smith had assaulted him. Smith was arrested, bailed and told to stay away from children.

However, he started another relationship in 2014 with a woman from Motherwell and abused her daughter.

After his conviction in February this year it emerged he had breached bail conditions while awaiting trial by living with the mother of the second victim. This came to light when Smith failed to attend a police office to sign on the sex offenders’ register.

Police traced him to a house in Wishaw. The mother of the young victim had apparently welcomed him back, telling her sister the charges against Smith had been dropped.

Smith admitted breaching bail and the sex offenders’ register requirements.

Defence agent Billy Hendry told the court Smith hopes to be rehabilitated in jail. He stressed his client had not gone “on the run” after his conviction in February, but hadn’t been paying attention when told he would have to sign on the sex offenders’ register.

Smith will serve the 20 months at the end of the three-year stretch.