A MAN who sexually abused four schoolboys two decades ago has been jailed for eight years.

Scott Turner, 44, assaulted the children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at addresses in Clydebank between December 1991 and November 1998.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how two of Turner’s victims were 11 when he began abusing them and the others were aged seven and eight.

Turner, who left Scotland for a new life in County Donegal in Ireland, denied the charges and claimed his victims were telling lies.

However, a jury rejected Turner’s story and he was convicted of sexual proceedings following a trial in November this year.

Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports and today at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Craig Scott QC sent Turner to prison.

Passing sentence, judge Scott added: “There has been an abject lack of understanding or indeed remorse for your actions.

“One of the complainers in this case has spoken of how you have left him with continuing psychological injuries.

“You wrecked what should have been innocent childhoods. There can be only one sentence which I can impose in this case.”

During proceedings earlier this year, the court heard how one of Turner’s victims, who is now aged 31, blurted out what happened to him and police were contacted.

Detectives then launched an investigation against Turner and managed to collect enough evidence to bring him to justice.

Following conviction, prosecution lawyer Jim Keegan QC said: “The accused lives in the Republic of Ireland. He resided in Scotland during the time of the offences.

“He has two previous convictions for minor offences and has never been in custody since then.”

On Wednesday, defence advocate Edward Targowski QC told the court his client still maintained his innocence.

He added: “Mr Turner’s position remains the same as the position he took during his trial. He maintains his innocence.

“The current position is quite stark. He is aware that your lordship will impose a sentence of imprisonment.

“He is making arrangements that he will serve that sentence as close to his family in Ireland as possible.”

Judge Scott told Turner that imprisonment was the only sentence available to him. Turner was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.