Man jailed over care home abuse

Burgess denied the charges at the High Court in Glasgow

A former youth worker has been jailed for 10 years for abusing two teenage boys at a care home in North Ayrshire.

Stewart Burgess was earlier convicted of abusing the boys, aged 14 and 15, at the former Redheugh Adolescent Unit in Kilbirnie in the 1980s.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how the 58-year-old was arrested in 2006 after earlier failed investigations into his role at the Salvation Army-run home.

Burgess, from Cumnock, was put on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Judge Lord Malcolm told him: "You have been convicted of sexual abuse on already disturbed adolescents entrusted in your care.

"Through threats and intimidation, you forcibly exploited these vulnerably young people.

"This is a grievous breach of trust which will have caused even more damage to these victims.

"You have no remorse and you seek to blame these victims for your current position."