Vile sex offender jailed for 21 months for abuse involving two girls in Airdrie and Coatbridge
A "smirking" sex offender has been jailed for 21 months for abuse involving two girls in Airdrie and Coatbridge.
Airdrie Sheriff Court heard the victims have suffered mental health problems since being targeted by Gerald O'Hare in the 1980s and 90s.
The 58-year-old admitted two charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour.
He exposed himself and performed a sex act in front of the first victim on various occasions between May 1982 and December 1985.
O'Hare behaved in a similar manner towards the second girl on a regular basis between July 1995 and March the following year. He also touched her inappropriately.
Sarah Healing, prosecuting, said both victims told police that O'Hare would "smirk" at them while carrying out the indecent acts.
The second female said she felt "extremely scared" of him.
READ MORE: Sheriff takes steps to protect domestic abuse victim
Ms Healing told the court: "As a result of the sexual abuse, she has battled with her mental health.
"She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
"The woman reported it [the abuse] to the police in June last year.
"The first victim, who suffered from depression and anxiety, heard she was reporting the historical abuse and decided to tell the police what had happened to her."
O'Hare, previously of Airdrie and Coatbridge, now lives in Dumfries.
The court heard he was jailed in 2001 for similar offending but it was years after that before the earlier victims reported his behaviour.
READ MORE: Cruel animal abuser banned from keeping pets after locking puppies in tiny cage at Scots home
Defence advocate Mairi-Clare McMillan said what he'd done had "weighed considerably" on him throughout his adult life.
She added: "He accepts full responsibility and acknowledges the impact of his conduct on the complainers.
"There has been no sexual offending in the last 25 years.
"I suggest the court could impose a high-level community order as an alternative to another custodial sentence.
"There is no ongoing threat to public safety."
Passing sentence, Sheriff Paul Haran told O'Hare: "On your release from prison after the 2001 case you engaged with offence-focused work.
READ MORE: Man caught with drugs worth £9,500 ordered to attend addiction counselling
"That appears to have had the desired effect of reducing any risk of further offending.
"You have kept out of trouble and I'm impressed by your level of insight.
"It's to your credit that you have not sought to minimise the nature of your behaviour or the impact it has had.
"But given the very serious nature of these matters I see no alternative to a period of imprisonment."
O'Hare was also put on the sex offenders' register.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.