A sexual predator who carried out an "appalling catalogue" of offences against children, including the rape of a schoolgirl, has been jailed for nine years.
Brian Dick, 41, taped up his young victim's mouth before raping her on various occasions between March 2008 and August 2009. The schoolgirl was just 10 when the abuse began.
Dick, of North Main Street, Carronshore, Falkirk was convicted by a jury which also found him guilty of a series of serious indecency offences beginning 20 years ago.
Applause broke out in the public gallery at the High Court in Edinburgh as Dick was given a 12-year extended sentence. Under the sentence, Dick will be supervised for three years once he is released from his nine-year jail term. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register.
Judge John Morris QC told Dick: "You have been convicted of an appalling catalogue of offences." He added that Dick was a "sexual predator who regularly took advantage of vulnerable young girls".
Former lorry driver Dick denied raping the girl but was convicted after a trial earlier this year. The court heard he continues to deny the charge.
He was found guilty of eight offences in total, including other indecency offences against the girl he raped.
The paedophile was also convicted of further charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour towards three other underage girls between 1991 and 2005.
The jury further found him guilty of possessing child abuse images in August 2009.
A background report compiled for the court before sentencing assessed Dick as posing a high risk of reoffending in the future. Defence QC Ian Duguid told the court: "He considers this report to be grossly biased against him."