A GREENOCK man accused of historic child abuse subjected two young children to years of torment including urinating on them, throwing them into baths and threatening to kill their mother, prosecutors claim.

George Harper faces two indictment charges relating to the alleged wilful ill-treatment of the youngsters at a property in Greenock and another in Renfrewshire in the mid-1990s.

It is claimed that Harper acted in a manner likely to cause the alleged victims unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

According to the Crown, 59-year-old Harper woke one of the children up on various occasions and placed them into a cold bath while they were wearing their pyjamas.

He is said to have carried the same child from their bed while they were still sleeping and thrown them into a bath while they were wearing their pyjamas.

It is claimed Harper bound both children's hands behind their backs and induced them to jump from a toy box to a bed, causing them to fall and injure themselves. On one occasion, prosecutors claim, this resulted in severe injury to the elder child.

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Harper is also said to have forced the same youngster to sit close to an electric heater and prevented them from moving, causing burn injuries to their legs.

He allegedly struck the child's hands with the buckle of his belt during several reported incidents, while he is said to have urinated on both children on various occasions.

Court papers state Harper repeatedly uttered threats of killing the children's mother if they 'disclosed his cruel conduct to anyone'.

Harper's solicitor told Greenock Sheriff Court on Tuesday that there had been a 'significant decrease in the mental health' of the accused and he was absent from the latest calling of the case as he was in hospital.

Sheriff James Spy scheduled a date for a continued first diet hearing of January 30 to get an updated medical report and Harper will remain on bail.