June 2011 MAN JAILED FOR ABUSE OF GIRL A FORMERLY well-respected Langholm businessman, who was found guilty of indecent behaviour towards a girl under 16, has been jailed for 18 months. Paul Graham, 41, of Loanwath Road, Gretna, was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years by Sheriff George Jamieson at Dumfries. Graham, described by his advocate as a “loving and caring father and husband” had been convicted by a jury of nine men and six women at the end of a five-day trial. He had maintained a plea of not guilty to lewd and indecent practices toward the girl in Langholm and elsewhere on various occasions over a five-year period up to February 2008. The advocate said: “Graham ran a successful business and had a good relationship with his staff and was also involved in the community and charity work.” She added that numerous references from family, friends and business associates had been put forward, despite the jury’s findings. Sheriff Jamieson said that a custodial sentence was inevitable and he handed Graham the two-year extended sentence with six months on licence. In addition, Graham was given a nine-month concurrent sentence on charges of being concerned in the supplying of cannabis in Charlotte Street, Langholm, during a three-year period up to April last year and another charge of being concerned in the supplying of cannabis resin in February last year at Eskdale Solutions in Glenesk Road, Langholm. His advocate said that Graham had been using cannabis to alleviate a medical problem but since it was discovered, he had not taken any more illicit drugs. It was stressed that he had not been in any way concerned in commercial supply but had supplied cannabis to an employee who had approached him.