A Dundee child molester has been jailed for historic abuse.
Raymond McCandless made a last-gasp plea for his liberty because he is sole carer for his wife.
The pensioner had admitted carrying out serious sexual offences decades ago against young girls over a period spanning nearly 20 years.
A sheriff told him his crimes had had a lasting effect on one victim in particular and prison was the only option.
McCandless, 71, previously admitted lewd and libidinous behaviour against three young girls, starting when he was just 13 himself.
One of his victims was just four years old when he abused her.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told McCandless’ first abuse was of a seven-year-old in the summer of 1964.
One of his victims told McCandless’ mother immediately after the first attack but was not believed.
Decades later, two of the women told their husbands what had happened and McCandless was reported to police.
Jailed for effect on victims
At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, solicitor John Boyle asked for his client to given a community disposal as a direct alternative to jail.
He said his client cares for his wife, sometimes spending all day doing so.
He added: “That is his sole concern about a custodial sentence.”
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael jailed McCandless for a total of 16 months and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.
He said this was despite the fact the offences were 40 to 60 years ago and the accused has no other convictions.
But he pointed out one girl was targeted “once a week or every few days” when McCandless was 29 to 31 years old.
The sheriff said: “The passage of time has allowed for clear assessment of the harm.
“Your crimes had a dreadful impact on the physical health, mental health and emotional health of (the complainer in charge three).
“This continues to the present day.”
“I have come to the view that there is no alternative but a custodial sentence.”
The offences
McCandless, of Finella Terrace, Dundee, admitted abusing a girl who was eight or nine on various occasions between June 1 1964 and October 31 1965.
She is now in her late 60s.
He admitted sexually abusing a second girl on a single occasion between April and August 1971, when she was just four years old and sexually abusing a third child, when she was aged eight, between August 27 1981 and August 26 1983.
Fiscal depute Gavin Burton told the court one girl was staying at McCandless’ family home when he crept into the bedroom and attacked her.
When the girl tried to leave the room, McCandless shoved her against a door, put his hand over her mouth and said “shoosh” to prevent her calling for help.
He also told the four-year-old to “shoosh” as he lured her to sit on his knee so he could assault her.
The girl thought it was part of a game.
She told her husband about McCandless in 1994 but it was not until she became aware of another victim in 2019 that it came to police attention.
The third victim was abused regularly and whenever they were alone, with Mr Burton telling the court it “progressed to every few days and at least once a week.”
Mr Burton said: “She knew what was going on but didn’t understand the significance of it.”
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