GREENOCK CHILD ABUSER ALEXANDER WARD JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS
A GREENOCK child abuser has been jailed for sexually assaulting two young girls more than 30 years ago.Alexander Ward was found guilty by a jury in March of carrying out lewd and indecent acts on the victims when they were aged just four and nine.
He is now beginning a three-year prison sentence.
The crimes date back to between 1989 and 1991 when Ward, 56, preyed on the youngsters at addresses in McLeod Street and Leitch Street.
The Telegraph told how Ward sexually abused one of the youngsters, the child of a neighbour when he lived at Leitch Street in 1990, in his flat - then gave her a biscuit and told her not to tell anyone.
The victim, now 37, told the court how she went to the police after reading a Telegraph report in 2019 concerning sexual abuse allegations against Ward's younger brother Andrew.
We reported last month that Alexander's sibling was struck off the care register having been convicted and sentenced to 36 months imprisonment last July for preying on young boys whilst volunteering at Barnard's Court Mission in Greenock between 1986 and 1994.
Alexander Ward, who lived in the east end of the town, has now received an identical jail term after a sentencing hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court in April.
His other victim was aged nine when he crept into her bedroom at a property on McLeod Street and abused her while her younger sister and two young cousins slept nearby.
Ward sexually assaulted both girls by touching their private parts.
It was revealed after the trial that Ward - who showed no reaction to the outcome of the case - has a previous conviction for child abuse.
As well as his 36-month prison term, Ward will be subject to a supervised release order once his custodial period ends.
