November 1997

Perv, 89 is jailed for two years

A pervert aged 89 was wheeled off to jail yesterday to become Scotland’s oldest prisoner. 

Wheelchair-bound James Kiers repeatedly abused a young girl he was supposed to be looking after. 

She was 11 when the ex-miner began his sickening catalogue of perversion. 

The girl’s mother had died and her dad relied on Kiers and his wife to look after her so he could out to work. 

But when his wife was out, Kiers carried out the abuse which went on for three years. 

He warned his victim that she would be put in a home if she told anyone. 

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Cosgrove jailed Kiers for two years and slammed him for his “shameful” conduct. 

She told him: “Because of the dastardly threats, it was not until she became an adult that she felt able to report the matter to the authorities. 

“Had it not been for your age and infirmity a lengthy prison sentence would be indicated here.” 

Kiers, of St Andrews Court, Larbert, Stirlingshire, admitted the indecency offences, which ended 15 years ago. 

He is likely to do his time in Saughton jail’s health centre.