A GALASHIELS pensioner who admitted historical sexual offences against four young girls has been put on the Sex Offenders Register.

Seventy four year old James Forsyth pleaded guilty to four counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards the females in the Langlee area of Galashiels in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sentence was deferred at Jedburgh Sheriff Court until March 16 for the production of a Criminal Justice Social Work Report.

Two of Forsyth's victims were in court to hear him admit the offences and through his lawyer he issued a public apology to them for his behaviour.

Depute fiscal Claire Nicholls said the first offence happened at a house in Marmion Road, Galashiels, on various occasions between June 1973 and June 1975 involving a girl aged 13 or 14 at the time.

He made remarks of a sexual nature towards her, showed her porn magazines, unzipped his trousers and carried out a sex act in front of her as well as forcing her to carry out a sex act on him.

Between May and December 1976 at a house in Kenilworth Avenue, he induced a girl aged 13 or 14 at the time to handle his private parts over his clothing.

At a house in Brier Lane in 1978 and 1979 he pulled down his trousers in front of an 11-year-old girl and asked her to touch his exposed private parts At the same house in 1980 and 1981 he made remarks of a sexual nature to a 14-year-old girl, exposed himself to her and seized her hand and forced her to carry out a sex act on him.

The court was told that Forsyth would tell the girls he had broken the zip on his trousers and asked if they could help to fix it.

A 14-year-old girl - who jumped out of the window of the house in Brier Lane to escape Forsyth's attentions - said she had never felt to scared in her life.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said they were serious matters and called for background reports to be compiled.

He also ordered that Forsyth of Scott Street, have his name placed on the Sex Offenders's Register.