A man who molested a girl while her mother was in hospital is facing jail.
Mitchell Pirnie, 51, abused the 11-year-old girl at a house in Perthshire after she was being looked after by his then wife.
He was reported to the police in 1996 after the girl’s mother discovered what had happened but remained free to continue to abuse youngsters.
Pirnie, formerly of Airlie Street, Alyth, committed sex crimes against three girls and two boys between 1996 and 2004, including raping one victim.
He had denied a string of charges at a High Court trial in Edinburgh but was found guilty of nine offences. Two further charges were found not proven.
A judge told Pirnie after the jury returned its verdicts that he faced a “substantial” prison sentence.
Lady Scott said: “You have been convicted of a very serious course of sexual abuse of children… and of a prolonged nature in respect of some of your victims.”
She called for a background report ahead of sentencing next month and placed Pirnie on the sex offenders register.
