A GALASHIELS teenager is facing a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl and a 15-year-old boy.
Jordan Pearson, 17, was found guilty of attacking the pair over a four-and-a-half-year period following a four-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The court heard that Pearson started abusing the girl in May 2006, when she was just nine years old. He repeatedly performed a series of sex acts on the child at various addresses in the Galashiels area.
He then started to take advantage of the boy in June 2009, when the victim was 12 years old. Pearson also performed similar sex acts on him.
Pearson was only caught when his female victim plucked up enough courage to tell her family about what she had to endure.
Pearson – who is known by his nickname Peanut – was convicted on three charges of sexual assault by a unanimous jury verdict.
During the trial, the court heard how both Pearson’s victims had been left severely traumatised as a consequence of what happened to them. The two youngsters cannot be named for legal reasons.
The schoolgirl told prosecution lawyer Alison Di Rollo that she was targeted by Pearson at various addresses in the Galashiels area.
The girl told the court: “I was upset and scared. He just said to me ‘don’t tell anybody’.
“He used to make me feel angry. I used to argue with my mum. Before it happened, I was happy. But my mood changed. I wasn’t happy anymore.”
The abuse continued until November 2010, when she told a friend about what was happening to her.
Her friend told the girl to tell her family about what was going on. She then told her stunned sister and police got involved.
Meanwhile, Pearson was also abusing a boy at another address in Galashiels area – the abuse began before the youngster’s 13th birthday.
He told the court that he didn’t like what Pearson was doing to him.
The jury returned their verdict on Pearson shortly after midday last Thursday.
Judge Lady Clark of Calton deferred sentence until next month so that she can obtain reports about Pearson’s character.
Advocate Depute Ms Di Rollo handed the judge’s clerk statements from Pearson’s victims about the impact that the assaults have had on their lives.
The judge also continued Pearson’s bail on the condition that he does not approach his victims and stays in his house between 6pm and 6am each day.
But she also warned him to expect to be sent to prison when he appears in court, next month.
Placing him on the Sex Offenders Register, she said: “Be in no doubt that the offences that you have been convicted of are very serious.
“It looks likely that a custodial term – one that will be very lengthy – will be imposed upon you. I will defer sentence for reports.”