A MAN told how he can no longer watch TV show Countdown after suffering almost a decade of physical and mental abuse as a child.

The victim was preyed upon by George Watt, who has now been brought to justice after he bravely spoke about his ordeal.

The 65-year-old was convicted of assault and neglect following a trial this week at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

The offences occurred between January 1987 and January 1996 at addresses in the Southside.

Watt is already behind bars having been jailed for five years in early 2024 for a gun offence.

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The pensioner had kept the revolver in a bag in a wardrobe at his home. He claimed to have found the "daft old thing" under floorboards.

Watt could now face extra time behind bars when he is sentenced for this latest crime next month.

The trial heard how Watt would often supposedly look after the boy as well as a girl at times.

In his closing speech to jurors, fiscal Ryan Watson said the boy would be tired "especially when subjected to the rigours of Countdown."

He added: "The boy would fall asleep but Watt did not allow him and would shout at him to wake him up.

"The boy would try to stay awake. The girl would squeeze his hand to stop him falling asleep but he would drift off.

"Watt would see this and throw little brass ornaments off the boy's shins - little to us now but not to a then young child.

"He told you that, to this day, he cannot watch that programme. It is a trigger, a reminder about the abuse that would follow."

The then boy would often be made to "stand to attention" for lengthy periods.

Cruel Watt was known to "intimidate and scare" both children.

He would pull bed covers tightly over the boy leaving the youngster struggling for breath.

Mr Watson added: "Watt told him when he could and could not sleep - it was all on his terms."

The girl - when she was with the boy - would often hear him crying and begging Watt to stop.

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Watt was also found guilty of assaulting a woman around this time.

She described how they were "too many to count".

This included him leaving her hurt after being smacked with a hoover.

Watt, formerly of the city's Bellahouston, claimed he did not know why the abuse allegations were made although admitted assaulting the woman "once or twice".

After the verdict, Watt's lawyer Patricia Baillie told the court: "He is serving a custodial sentence for another matter.

"The incident is in no way in relation to this."

Sheriff Gerard Bonnar deferred sentencing until next month.