A sex attacker caught after his victims found out on Christmas Day how each had suffered has been jailed for almost five years.

William Hughes, 54, preyed on two girls between 2009 and 2015 at different locations in Ayrshire.

Hughes today pleaded guilty to lewd and libidinous behaviour towards the first girl as well as a charge of sexually assaulting her.

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He further admitted engaging in unlawful sexual behaviour with the other victim.

It emerged Hughes, now of Royston, Glasgow, had previous convictions for sex offences.

Lord Arthurson sentenced him to four years and eight months cutting the jail term from seven years due to the guilty plea.

The first victim was aged between nine and 12 when she was abused.

This mainly occurred at addresses in Ayr.

Prosecutor Angela Gray told the High Court in Glasgow this would happen "most weekends" when Hughes was in her company.

The victim remembered being on a walk with him and them ending up at the former Mainholm Academy near Ayr racecourse. It was there Hughes also struck.

Miss Gray: "She recalls being in a bricked area of the building. It was sheltered and hidden."

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The second girl was 13 when Hughes repeatedly preyed on her at a house in East Ayrshire.

This included while she watched television leaving her "scared".

Miss Gray: "On December 25 2020, (the first girl) disclosed to (the other), who then explained that she had also been sexually abused by Hughes."

The earlier victim then went to police in September 2021 leading to Hughes being arrested.

Gillian Ross, defending, today said: "He himself finds his behaviour abhorrent."