AN Aberdeen guest house proprietor who preyed on young children was

jailed for eight years at the High Court in Aberdeen yesterday.

Francis Ward, 55, of the Belle Vue Guest House, Victoria Road,

Aberdeen, was found guilty of nine charges of using lewd, indecent, and

libidinous practices and behaviour towards children of various ages.

Ward was also convicted of six assault charges and one of breach of

the peace. A further indecency charge was found not proven.

The jury's verdicts followed an eight-day trial during which the court

heard how Ward abused boys and girls over a 10-year period.

Twice during the trial, Lord Cullen and his legal colleagues took off

their wigs and other trappings of office to hear evidence from young

witnesses.

One girl, now aged 19, told the court Ward showed her his collection

of school belts, including one with ''ouch'' on it. She told how Ward

regularly belted her after a coin was tossed to see how many hits she

would be given. She also had to belt Ward, adding: ''He preferred it on

the bottom to the hand.''

Jailing Ward, Lord Cullen described the case as one of the worst of

its sort he had come across in recent years.