A FORMER houseparent at a children's home who sexually abused girls in his care has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Alexander Wilson, 61, is the fourth man to be convicted of molesting youngsters at the Quarriers Village in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire.

After he was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh, some of the victims demanded a public inquiry, claiming the charity which ran the home ignored or covered up complaints.

Wilson's brother-in-law, John Porteous, 70, who became known as the Beast of the Bell-tower because he lured boys into the village's tower to abuse them, is serving an eight-year sentence imposed in 2002.

Earlier this month, appeal judges upheld the conviction of Samuel McBrearty, 73, who was jailed for 12 years for rape and other sex offences at the village.

A jury found Wilson, of Carsemeadow, Quarriers Village, guilty of 15 charges of indecency and indecent assault, going back to 1967.

Judge David Burns QC also placed Wilson's name on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Afterwards, victims' spokesman David Whelan said staff had been allowed to go on working, even after complaints were made, and there had been attempts to discredit witnesses.

Phil Robinson, chief executive of Quarriers, said: "Our sympathy in this case, as in others, lies with the victims.

"We at Quarriers are ready to offer counselling and support to them, if it is requested.

"We co-operated fully with the police inquiry which led to the conviction of Alexander Wilson but conviction and sentencing are matters for the courts."