A man who sexually assaulted a young girl during a game he claimed "mums and dads play" has been jailed for seven years.
Raymond Skeates abused the 10-year-old at his home in Inverness more than 16 years ago.
Skeates was only arrested last year after his victim eventually revealed what she had suffered.
The 58-year-old admitted to a charge of attempted rape when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow last month.
Judge Lord Brailsford told the pervert that jail was inevitable as he returned to the dock to be sentenced.
He said the term would have been eight years but for his guilty plea.
The court heard how the victim was assaulted at Skeates' house in the summer of 1993 where she had been playing along with a young boy and another girl.
Skeates told his victim and the boy strip and climb into a bed before assaulting the girl.
He later told the young boy that this was their "secret".
The victim did not reported to police her ordeal until April 2007.
Skeates could initially not be traced as at the time of the offence he used the name Wilcox and had since moved to Birkenhead, Merseyside.
He was eventually found last year, but denied the allegations made by the victim.
On Wednesday his lawyer said Skeates is "terribly ashamed" and "regrets what he did every second of every day".
Susan Duff, defending, added: "He took a very brave step in owning up when other people rarely do."
Skeates - who it was claimed lacked victim empathy - was also placed on the sex offenders register.
Lord Brailsford told Skeates: "This involved a forced sex act on a female aged 10. You also compelled her and five year old boy to commit an act of gross indecency."
