A sick Larkhall businessman who preyed on young boys as they chased Formula One dreams has been caged.
Andrew Fairley, 58, spent years overseeing karting activities at venues across Scotland, England and Wales and ran the Clan Racing track in Larkhall.
But he has now been jailed for five years and six months after it was discovered it was just a front to cover for sickening abuse of the youngsters in his care.
Fairley abused four boys aged between 10 and 17 dozens of times in his caravan, garage and at race venues and also gave them alcohol before molesting them.
In July he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted five charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices, indecent assault and sexual assault between 2005 and 2018.
At the time, Sheriff Thomas Millar made the rare move of referring the case to the High Court for sentencing after hearing Fairley had already been jailed for eight years at Carlisle Crown Court for child sex offences.
The Sheriff said the 'grave' offences meant an order for lifelong restriction could be imposed on Fairley for his twisted campaign of sexual abuse.
Police Scotland released a statement after he was sentenced at the High Court in Aberdeen today.
Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Miller told Lanarkshire Live : “We acknowledge the sentencing of Fairley and commend the victims in coming forward. Fairley will now face the consequences of his actions.
"Police Scotland is committed to tackling sexual offences to ensure the safety of individuals and communities.
“I want to make it clear to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse that there is no time limit on when you can report these crimes.
"We will always conduct a thorough investigation, no matter how long ago the incidents occurred and we will do all we can to bring perpetrators of such offences to justice.”
Scottish Conservative shadow community safety minister, Russell Findlay MSP, helped to represent the family of a victim who sparked the police investigation.
In July he said: "This predatory paedophile used his position of responsibility to prey on young boys with a love of motorsport.
"It is absolutely scandalous that a man with a child sex abuse conviction was able to hide in plain sight."
Fairley was previously sentenced to eight years in prison at Carlisle Crown Court.
A profile of Fairley on a karting website said: "This no nonsense leader has an uncanny knack of finding raw talented drivers and honing them into Champions.
"With many British and Scottish Champions past and present Andy certainly puts in the time, the only thing he expects his drivers to do is listen and learn, that's how champions are made."
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