Police this week hailed the "bravery" and "courage" of the victims of a convicted Lanarkshire sex attacker.
Ross McCrum, from Uddingston, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of 20 charges, including rapes, sexual assaults and indecent and sexual communications with women and young girls, during an earlier trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The 27-year-old was placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period following trial. He will also be subject to three years supervision upon release.
Officers hope his conviction will bring comfort to the 12 young women and girls he abused over a five-and-a-half year period.
Detective Sergeant Mark Nelson of Coatbridge CID told Lanarkshire Live : "I hope the outcome at court can bring some comfort to his victims and their families.
"This conviction has only been possible due to the bravery and courage of those who came forward to report this horrific abuse and I commend and thank them for speaking out.
"I would encourage anyone who is experiencing or has experienced abuse to come forward and report it to police.
"All reports of abuse and sexual assaults, regardless of the passage of time, will be thoroughly investigated by Police Scotland and victims will be supported throughout.”
During trial back in August the court heard that McCrum preyed on his victims which included raping two of them. He also sent lewd photos of himself and tried to arrange to meet some of the girls for sex - one as young as 14.
He further forced one of the teenagers to send him intimate photos.
The crimes occurred between June 2014 and January 2020 in Uddingston , Lanarkshire, Irvine and a hotel in Ayr.
It emerged he already had a previous conviction for sexual offences.
Judge Tom Hughes told him: "It is quite clear you caused considerable distress to the victims.
"They gave their evidence with great dignity and now have the consolation of knowing the information they brought to the authorities was accepted."
Anyone who wishes to report a crime can contact Police Scotland on 101 or make an anonymous report to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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