A FORMER Quarriers' houseparent was jailed yesterday for seven and a half years for sexually abusing young girls he was supposed to be looking after.

Alexander Wilson (61), of 8 Carsemeadow, Quarriers Village, was found guilty of 15 charges of indecency and indecent assault stretching back to 1967. He had denied the charges against him.

The trial, at the High Court in Edinburgh, heard how he would brush against children and touch them indecently.

One girl was seriously assaulted after Wilson made her lie on a bed and in another incident a youngster was hurt when she was pushed from a moving car.

Phil Robinson, chief executive of Quarriers, said the charity's sympathies lay with Wilson's victims and they were ready to offer support and counselling to them if requested.