A paedophile who preyed on two young girls in Dundee has been spared a prison sentence despite being “prepared for jail”.
Gibson Dunbar was convicted of the historical sexual abuse of two girls, who both were under ten at the time, in the late 1980s and mid-1990s.
A social worker’s report said Dunbar was “likely” to reoffend unless he took full steps to tackle his sexual deviancy.
However, a sheriff at Dundee today spared him a jail term.
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael told Dunbar: “I have got to take a number of things into consideration and right at the top is the impact this had on the victims.
“These are serious charges; they are not, however, penetrative charges.
“This behaviour happened 26 to 19 years ago. Since then you have been in trouble three times. None of those were sexual matters.”
One of Dunbar’s victims previously waived her right to anonymity and described him as a “rat that needed put away”.
Dunbar, 49, of Newcastle, was found guilty after a three-day trial of two charges of using lewd and libidinous practices towards the youngsters at addresses in Dundee.
Fiscal depute Vicki Bell had previously told the court: “One of the girls called him ‘creepy Gibby’ – a nickname like this does not come from nowhere.”
Dunbar’s defence agent said Dunbar had been forced to move to his mother’s address in Newcastle after suffering a “degree of hostility” from his neighbours following his conviction.
He said: “Mr Dunbar has been deeply affected by this conviction.He comes to court extremely apprehensive as he knows he may face a custodial sentence.
“He has made the necessary arrangements to go to jail.”
However, Sheriff Carmichael sentenced Dunbar to a community payback order which prevents Dunbar from being in contact with any girl under the age of 17.
He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, undergo supervision for three years, during which he will also be subject to the notification requirements of the sex offenders register and also to take part in the Tay Project, which works with sex offenders.