An Irvine Carter has been jailed for a string of sexual attacks on young girls after luring them to his stables to see horses.

Sick pervert William Rae is finally behind bars today after numerous victims - the youngest being just 12-years-old - came forward to say he had sexually assaulted them.

The Times can also reveal predator Rae, 58, signed up as a “Kinship Carer” with North Ayrshire Council’s social services department which gave him opportunity to take vulnerable girls into his care, where he would then abuse them.

The former binman’s crimes date back 16 years and each of his victims were the daughters of family friends who had been left in his care.

They were all aged between 12 and 15.

Rae, who was known as Billy, pled not guilty but was found guilty unanimously by a jury last week after the court heard he systematically assaulted girls entrusted to him at his home in James Crescent in Irvine or when he took them for horseriding lessons at his stables in Stewarton.

The court was told how lifelong Carter, Rae would entice the girls to the stables with the promise of seeing horses before grooming and eventually abusing them.

In December 2010, Rae coaxed one of the girls into his lorry before forcibly pulling her clothing down to expose her private parts whilst the child pleaded with him to stop.

In another incident between September and December 2015 Rae entered the bedroom of a 13-year-old girl before placing his hands inside her trousers and attempted to kiss her. During the same time period he also made sexual remarks to the same child whilst she was in a shower and on another occasion he exposed himself to her.

The court was told another victim, age 12, was repeatedly attacked by Rae between September 2001 and March 2005.

On one occasion Rae put his hands inside her underwear and assaulted her despite being asked to stop.

He also forced the child’s hands into his own underwear. On another occasion between March 2005 and March 2006, when the same victim was 16-years-old Rae indecently assaulted her whilst she was intoxicated.

He was also charged with making sexual remarks to another child between September and December 2015.

Rae received a six year sentence at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week - split between three years jail time and three years extended sentence, meaning he will be supervised upon release.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

A spokesman for Irvine Carters Society said the organisation will be taking strong action against Rae, with the possibility of a lifetime ban.

He said: “Obviously we all find Billy’s actions totally deplorable and action will be taken from the organisation. From a personal point of view I would like to see him receive a lifetime ban from the Carters.

“We have our AGM next week and then our committee meeting next month and a decision will be made then. But whatever happens we have a responsibility to protect the public and there is just no way he could ever be involved in the Marymass Festival, and in particular the parade, ever again.”

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership said: “We do not comment on the specifics of individual cases, however, the safety and wellbeing of people in our care is our highest priority. “Concerns raised about a child’s safety and welfare are investigated immediately and appropriate and effective action is taken.”

Victim says Carter was ‘Sick predator’

One of William Rae’s victims bravely spoke to the Irvine Times calling him a “sick predator” who had groomed her from the age of 12.

She said: “I was in the foster care system and he was a friend of my foster parents. I met him when I was 12-years-old and they took me to his stables because I loved horses. Within one month of meeting him he asked me “Do you love me”. I was 12 and I did love him and his wife because they had been kind to me, so I said yes. But he meant something different and from there he began abusing me.

"I didn’t know who to tell or even how to say out loud the things he had been doing to me. I felt embarrassed and I thought I might not be believed because everyone loved Billy in the community. I realise now though that he is sick and he is a predator. He got himself into the position of trust purely so he could sexually abuse young girls like me.”

Now 28 and a mother herself she says while she feels Rae’s sentence is not long enough, she is still happy he is finally facing justice.

She said: “I was very frightened of him for a long time. I would see him passing me in the bin lorry when he was working and he would smile and wave and I just felt fear. But since I reported him I don’t feel that fear anymore. I feel like I have got that power back.

“For so long I kept what he done to me a secret. I only told my partner, but then I was told that someone else had made a complaint to police about him, accusing him of sexual abuse and I knew I had to speak out.

"Now I feel guilty that I didn’t speak out sooner. Maybe I could have stopped all those other girls going through the same thing I did. But then I think, no, I am not to blame. He is. I didn’t abuse anyone. That is on him.”