Ban paedophile 'befriended' children

Blair appeared at the High Court in Glasgow

A convicted paedophile who broke a court order banning him for life from becoming involved with children has been jailed for three years.

Bryce Blair had been jailed four times for lewd and libidinous offences against children when the ban was imposed last year under a little-used legal provision.

The 47-year-old was prohibited from having contact with any child under the age of 16 with a view to forming or having any association or relationship with them.

Blair had been jailed on four previous occasions

However, he ignored the order and became involved with the young son and daughter of a neighbour.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Blair, of London Road, Glasgow, met the girl's father while in police custody.

He told the children's mother that he was an associate of her partner - but did not say why he had been in prison.

Johanna Johnston, prosecuting, said Blair - who admitted the charge - had visited the family's home every day in the three-and-a-half weeks before his arrest.

He began regularly dining with the children and their mother, and became increasingly involved in disciplining the youngsters.

He read the little girl stories and bought presents for her and her brother.

Goodnight kiss

Miss Johnston said detailed police inquiries had not revealed any sexual contact with the youngsters.

However, on one occasion Blair asked the girl for a goodnight kiss and cuddle as he was putting her to bed.

The mother became concerned because she felt Blair was becoming too close to her children.

He has previous convictions for lewd and libidinous practices dating back to 1972.

Strathclyde Police had sought the ban

Blair was jailed four times between 1975 and 1994, when he was jailed for six years.

Last June Strathclyde's chief constable took him before a sheriff to ask for a ban under the rarely used Crime and Disorder Act of 1998.

An order was granted at Glasgow Sheriff Court banning him from associating with children indefinitely.

He was also on the Sex Offenders' Register, and was being visited twice a week by Strathclyde Police's Offender Assessment Unit.

Officers from the unit discovered on 24 June that Blair had befriended the woman and her children.

When questioned he admitted spending time with the children and that he knew this was in contravention of the order.

'No sexual impropriety'

Paul McBride, QC, defending, said his client had started "popping" in for a chat with the children's mother.

Mr McBride said there was no question from either the children or their mother that there had been any obvious sexual impropriety or sexual suggestions.

He also denied that Blair was grooming the children for sex.

However, he admitted that their mother had not known why he had been in jail.