Paisley sex predator brought to justice after 60 years

A sex predator has been brought to justice almost 60 years after he first struck.

David Corrigan admitted to abusing three girls between 1966 and 2005.

The now 70-year-old was arrested after his final victim bravely reported him to police in late 2023.

Married Corrigan now faces a lengthy jail term after appearing in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

He pleaded guilty to three charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour.

Corrigan will be sentenced at a later date.

The abuse took place in his hometown of Paisley, Renfrewshire, over several decades.

He targeted his first victim at a house party in the summer of 1966. She recalled being in a bedroom with another girl when Corrigan exposed himself, before he and other boys ran off when the youngster screamed.

Prosecutor Eric Robertson said: “It was after this that further incidents of sexual behaviour towards her began to take place and escalate.”

This initially included him inappropriately touching her after grabbing her by the arms and throwing her into a room.

The court heard that if she did not obey his sick demands, Corrigan would become “annoyed” with the terrified victim.

The sex attacks continued regularly over a four-year period.

Mr Robertson told the court that Corrigan’s own father once caught him in the act and pulled his son away from the girl.

The victim later confided in her husband about the abuse she suffered years earlier.

The second girl endured a similar ordeal, with Corrigan also often showing her pornographic magazines.

Corrigan preyed on his final victim as she lay in bed beside her sleeping mother.

More than a decade later, she happened to be in his company again when he suddenly groped her chest.

Corrigan later denied any “deliberate touching”, but the court heard the incident triggered “flashbacks” to what had happened when she was young.

Mr Robertson said: “She knew that what he had done then was wrong.”

This victim went to police in November 2023. Corrigan was arrested at his home and also questioned about the abuse of the other two girls.

He claimed the first two victims had both “asked” him to expose himself.

Regarding the final victim, Corrigan stated she “would not lie”, so “it must be true” — but claimed he had no memory of it happening.

John Brannigan, defending, told the court: “He is realistic to the consequences of his actions.”

Corrigan, who had been on bail, was remanded in custody by judge Lord Doherty.

Sentencing was deferred for background reports.