A CONVICT stands accused of child abuse and allegedly trying to rape a girl in Kilwinning as a youngster.

Justin Graham, 36, faced the historical abuse allegations last week when their case was heard at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

Graham, who court papers state is also known as Justin Beau Graham, is charged with lewd, indecent and libidinous acts towards a youngster and attempting to rape the child at two addresses in the town.

Its alleged Graham preyed on the girl while she was aged around nine or 10 between May 1 and June 30 in 1997 at an address in Stobbs Terrace, Kilwinning.

Graham faces a second charge of allegedly abusing the same girl – who was then aged between 13 and 14 – on another occasion in Pollock Crescent sometime between May 11 in 2000 and May 10, 2002.

Graham, whose current address is listed as HMP Dumfries, pled not guilty to both charges on Her Majesty’s Advocate’s indictment.

The accused’s current conditions were continued after the hearing and he will return to court at a later date.

All accused persons reported in the Irvine Times are considered innocent of any charges unless later proven or admit to being guilty.

Any information on criminality in the North Ayrshire area can be reported to Police Scotland on 101 – in an emergency you should always dial 999.