A PREDATOR who preyed on young boys in Inverclyde over a period of eight years has been locked up after a sheriff branded his crimes 'heinous'.

Andrew Ward — who showed 'no insight' into his offending and branded his victims 'evil liars' — is today beginning a 36-month prison sentence.

Ward, 52, sexually abused boys whilst working as an adult volunteer at the Barnard's Court church mission in the east end of Greenock.

Sheriff Michael Higgins told him: "All three victims were vulnerable by virtue of their young ages.

"In all cases, your conduct was heinous.

"You used your position and influence over them to sexually abuse them."

Ward indecently assaulted and using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards his victims when they were aged between nine and 15.

He repeatedly molested and performed disgusting acts on the youngsters between 1986 and 1994.

His traumatised and emotional victims gave harrowing evidence during a four-day trial of how Ward targeted them in places including a common close and onboard a minibus.

A sentencing hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court was told how Ward's wife, who has a child with him, separated from him after he was charged by police.

A defence advocate asked Sheriff Higgins to place 'some weight' on Ward's own age of between 17 and 25 when he committed the offences, adding: "He went on to live a productive life and contributed greatly to the local community."

One victim had told the trial: "I froze when it happened, as if I couldn't stop it — and I couldn't stop it."

Ward, who worked as a duty manager at the former Gantock Hotel in Gourock, touched the private parts of all of his victims and performed sex acts on them.

At an address on Maple Road, while naked, he entered the bed of one boy and kissed him on his neck and ear before telling him to be quiet, and then sexually assaulting him.

He abused another boy at the same property years earlier, as well as within a common close on East Hamilton Street.

Ward, who also worked in a local care home, targeted the other victim at Barnard's Court Mission Church and onboard the mission's minibus.

Sheriff Higgins told him: "You have lived an otherwise pro-social and productive life, you have a positive work history and you have the support of your extended family."

However, the sheriff noted that Ward had shown 'no insight' into his offending behaviour and that his attitude about what he had done was 'poor'.

Sheriff Higgins added: "In evidence the complainers spokes of the long-lasting and profoundly damaging impact on their lives.

"Because of the gravity of the offending, over eight years, I have reached the conclusion that the only appropriate sentence is one of imprisonment."

Sheriff Higgins imposed consecutive sentences of 16, 14 and six months on the three indictment charges a jury had taken just 35 minutes to convict him of.

Ward has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

One of his victims, who is himself serving a prison sentence, viewed the proceedings remotely and could be seen on screens with his arms raised as he applauded the sentences.