An artist has been convicted of a horrific catalogue of sexual and physical abuse of children in the 1980s. Chris Maginn sexually abused a boy and a girl, tortured animals, and forced the girl to kill her pet gerbil with an axe. Maginn, a sculptor who also spent years working on community projects, began abusing the kids when he was aged 35.

He mistreated the kids and another girl when they were aged between 9 and 15. Maginn, now 76, denied all wrongdoing and forced his victims, now adults, to give evidence against him.

And he now faces a lengthy jail term after being convicted of five charges spanning 1981 to 1987. Maginn, of Edinburgh, began abusing the children in March 1981, at areas in Argyll and Bute. He was convicted of one charge of "wilfully ill-treating" the trio, one of assaulting the boy, one of sexually abusing him, and two of sexually assaulting one girl.

Chris Maginn was convicted of abusing three children in the 1980s.
Chris Maginn was convicted of abusing three children in the 1980s.

He treated the "children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health". He placed them "in a state of fear, alarm and anxiety". He also kicked pet cats, threw a kitten at a door, drove nails into a goat's head.

And he grabbed the boy and younger girl by the throat and pushed and threw the boy about. He was convicted of two charges of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the girl - when she was aged between 10 and 15. He made "inappropriate and sexual comments" and had sex in front of her, made her see him naked and assaulted her in a swimming pool.

When she was older, he continued to make inappropriate and sexual comments and further sexually assaulted her.

He also repeatedly sexually abused the boy, when he was aged between 10 and 13.

Maginn also beat the boy on a number of occasions, hitting him on the head and body, leaving him injured.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry warned Maginn he may remit the case to the High Court, where sex offenders can be jailed for more than the maximum five-year term available in sheriff courts. Maginn is due back at Dumbarton Sheriff Court next month.

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