A man murdered a pensioner by stabbing him 14 times and slashing his throat.

Richard Cassidy was convicted of the "heinous" killing of 75-year-old David Farish at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Cassidy, 70, attacked the elderly man at his home in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.

The court heard the accused was told by a close friend his victim had physically and sexually abused her as a child.

Police had investigated the woman's claims in 2006 but no charges were brought.

The jury heard Cassidy confronted Mr Farish about the claims and reacted angrily when the pensioner allegedly told him the police "could not prove anything".

The killer left his victim to bleed to death in Broadlee Bank on Thursday, February 18, 2016.

The woman who made the claims about Mr Farish gave evidence during the trial and told how she drove Cassidy to the police station to hand himself him.

She said she was "gobsmacked" when Cassidy admitted being responsible for the attack.

He confessed to police but said he did not want to be known as a "cold-blooded killer".

The court heard Cassidy has sent a string of letters to the woman at the centre of the abuse claims from prison while still on remand.

In one, he said there must have been a lot of "hatred and anger" in him to do what he did.

The witness said she does not intend to speak to Cassidy again in the future.

Lord Summers deferred sentencing for reports.

Following the conviction, detective inspector David Pinkney said: "This was a particularly heinous murder of a frail, elderly man in his own home.

"Thanks to a thorough and robust investigation by the major investigation team we were able to quickly identify Richard Cassidy as the suspect.

"Information we received from the community was also crucial in bringing Cassidy to justice. This conviction will not reverse his cruel actions but I do hope it will bring some measure of resolution for Mr Farish's family."