A SICK Saltcoats man who abused a girl over a 12-year period has been jailed.

Kevin Dickson, 44, was found guilty of three charges of lewd and libidinous practices towards the same girl between 1985 and 1997.

Dickson, who had been residing in Ivanhoe Drive, abused the girl between March 30, 1985 and March 29, 1993 at three addresses in Ardrossan and Saltcoats respectively. The girl was only four at the time of the first offence.

Dickson also abused the same girl when she was between 12 and 16, between March 30, 1993 and March 31, 1996 in three Ardrossan addresses and one in Saltcoats.

He was also found guilty of committing the same offences between April 1, 1996 and March 29, 1997.

After trial at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, he was found guilty on all charges. Dickson was sentenced to 36 months in prison and placed on the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.