A north-east pensioner who admitted a campaign of sexual abuse against girls as young as three has been jailed.
John Tollerfield preyed on the five youngsters over more than five decades at addresses across Aberdeenshire.
The 76-year-old was given a 27-month prison sentence when he appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday.
He will serve a further 33 months on licence and his name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
At an earlier hearing, fiscal depute David Bernard said the nine charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour Tollerfield admitted amounted to “systematic sexual abuse”.
The court heard the pensioner had touched the girls for his own sexual gratification and that two of his victims may have been abused as often as once a month over a five-year period.
On several occasions Tollerfield asked the girls to sit on his knee for “cuddles” before groping them.
The court heard that in 2012 one victim was worried about a lump in her breast.
Tollerfield told her he could check the lump before massaging her.
When the girl said she felt uncomfortable, Tollerfield replied: “Don’t tell your mum. I’ll get into trouble – this will be our little secret.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller told him: “The court must take a serious view of the sexual offences to which you have pleaded guilty.
“Although any act of sexual abuse against a child is a very serious offence, you abused five children. I’ve had regard to the victims’ statements and it is clear, and not at all surprising, your harmful impact on their lives has been self-evident.”
Mr Miller said each of Tollerfield’s actions amounted to repeated and “powerful manipulation of a child”.
Tollerfield’s address was given in court papers as Burnside of Rora, Longside.
