A pensioner guilty of horrific physical abuse against two young boys has been jailed for three years.
William Ramsay preyed on the youngsters during a 13-year reign of terror in Dundee.
Jurors heard how the now 71-year-old plunged the head of one terrified victim under water.
On Tuesday, Ramsay was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
The OAP had previously been convicted of five assault charges – including one to the danger of a boy’s life – spanning between 1978 and 1991 after the trial in Dundee earlier this year.
His lawyer Tony Lenehan KC had asked Lady Drummond to consider an alternative to custody.
But, the judge told Ramsay: “Your behaviour must have had a harmful effect on them.
“One victim – now deceased – turned to substance abuse due to his treatment.
“You deny all responsibility, as you did at trial. You stated to the social worker (in a pre-sentencing report) that you have done nothing wrong despite being found guilty.
“You are critical of those that you have offended against.”
The hearing was told Ramsay was unable to carry out unpaid work as an alternative punishment due to apparent ill health and was also “unwilling” to pay a fine or compensation.
The judge said, in any event, only a jail-term was “appropriate”.
Ramsay, also of Dundee, blew a kiss to a weeping woman in court as he was taken to the cells.
The trial previously heard how the victim who has since passed away was repeatedly hit on the head, punched and threatened.
The other then-child suffered similar attacks, but was also kicked and had his head held under water putting his life at threat.
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