A lorry driver who subjected young boys to sexual abuse nearly four decades ago has been jailed for seven years.

David Philips, 57, preyed on the children between 1974 and 1981 when he was living in Stranraer.

The abuse happened at a number of locations, including on a boat moored in the town's harbour.

One victim, who suffered serious sexual abuse 50 times, was threatened he would be put in care if he revealed what had happened to him.

Advocate depute David Taylor said one victim said he "went off the rails and another suffered depression and flashbacks".

Philips, who most recently lived on the Isle of Man, pleaded guilty to sex crimes against the boys aged between five and 12.

He admitted four offences of indecency against the children.

Judge Lord Boyd told Philips at the High Court in Edinburgh: "You have been convicted on your own plea of some very serious sexual offences against four boys."

Defence counsel Lorraine Glancy said that a background report prepared on Philips assessed his rick of re-offending as "relatively low".

She said: "Upon his leaving Stranraer decades ago he has attempted, with some success, to put behind him not only the abuse he suffered when he resided there but also the abuse he perpetrated when he resided there."

"He has spent the best part of 40 years since these offences were committed trying to put them behind him," she said.

Ms Glancy said that over the last few decades Philips had led "a normal working life".

She said that Philips' guilty pleas had prevented witnesses having to give evidence at a trial.