iStockA predatory paedophile has been jailed for nine years after subjecting young girls to “appalling” sexual abuse over 16 years.
Kenneth Polus, 75, targeted victims at locations in Inverness and nearby Highland villages where he molested and carried out sex acts on children between 1980 and 1996.
Polus had earlier denied a series of charges during a trial but was found guilty of five offences against three girls with victims aged as young as five and six, which included exposing himself to child victims.
A judge told the pensioner at the High Court in Edinburgh: “You have been convicted of an appalling course of sexual abuse.”
Judge Michael O’Grady KC said: “For a period of 16 years, you used and abused defenceless and vulnerable children.
“Not for one moment did you give a thought to their welfare or the damage you would do. In that, at least, you have been consistent.
“Given the contempt and disdain that you showed for them throughout the trial, I am entirely unsurprised to note from the background report that you accept no guilt, express no remorse, show no insight, blame your victims and pity only yourself,” said the judge.
Mr O’Grady added: “There is nothing this court can do to undo the terrible things that you have done, but it is to be hoped that this process will bring some measure of closure and healing to those who have suffered at your hands.”
The judges said that the offences committed by Polus were part of a course of criminal conduct perpetrated against child victims in which he acted “cynically and methodically”.
Mr O’Grady told the sex offender that in sentencing him, he took into account his age.
Defence counsel David Moggach KC said Polus gave evidence at his earlier trial at the High Court in Inverness and put forward his position that the offending did not happen.
He said: “Clearly that was not accepted by the jury by their verdicts of guilty.” He said that Polus maintained that position to the author of a criminal justice social work report prepared on him ahead of sentencing.
The defence counsel said: “It is inevitable it is going to be a significant custodial sentence.”
He said of Polus: “He appears to have a good work ethic and worked throughout his adult life.”
Polus followed the sentencing proceedings by a TV link to the courtroom from prison and could be seen shaking his head after the judge imposed a nine-year jail term.
His prison sentence was backdated to February 17 when he was taken into custody at the end of his trial.
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