A Royal Navy sailor who groomed and sexually abused three young boys over a period of 15 years while he was on shore leave in Fife was today (Friday) jailed for eight years.

Paedophile Mark Thompson showed no emotion as he was led from the dock at Livingston High Court to begin his sentence.

The court was told that the 62-year-old seaman still maintained his innocence despite being found guilty of six serious charges of abusing children in his care at an address in Inverkeithing, between January 1984 and October 2008.

He was convicted by a jury of using lewd and libidinous practices against his first victim for five years, starting when the youngster was just eight years old.

While he was still committing that offence he induced a 12-year-old boy to view pornographic material between October 1984 and October 1985, an offence also classed as lewd and libidinous practices.

The grooming and abuse of his third victim, which started when the boy was 12 years old continued, despite a five-year gap in offending, until the boy was an adult aged 25.

The majority of his offending involved inducing the third boy to shower naked with him, masturbate him and for them to perform oral sex on each other.

Janice Green KC, defending, said the Crown case had proceeded on the basis that grooming carried out on a child meant that consent given as an adult was not freely given.

Despite the accused’s continual denial of his guilt, she said it was accepted that the breach of trust involved would influence the length of sentence the court imposed.

She said a background report assessed Thompson as being at medium risk of sexual reoffending.

She added that a victim impact statement provided to the court by one of the complainers illustrated the lasting psychological harm the accused had caused his victim.

Passing sentence, Judge Lady Poole told Thompson: “You were convicted by the jury at the High Court in Edinburgh of sexual abuse of three male victims on various occasions over a time period totalling about 15 years.

“You took advantage of the males when you were in a position of trust towards them – when you weren’t away serving in the Royal Navy. 

"All three were subject to grooming behaviour by you that then developed into sexual abuse for two of them.

“Your deviant sexual behaviour towards your victims will have caused them emotional harm and was an abuse of your responsibility towards them.”

She highlighted that Thompson had a previous conviction for taking or making indecent images of children for which he had received a community sentence in 2022.

However, she said she took account of his good work record, including service with the Royal Navy, and the fact he had led a pro-social lifestyle until being convicted of the offences.

She sentenced him to eight years in prison, backdated to November 3, 2023 when he was first remanded in custody.

In addition to remaining subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 indefinitely she reminded him that his name had been added to the list of persons unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.

Detective Inspector Calum Lawrie, of Fife’s Public Protection Unit, commented: “Thompson showed utter disregard for the impact his crimes would have on his victims. 

"I want to commend them for reporting these offences to us. I welcome today’s sentencing and hope that the victims can take some comfort in knowing that Thompson is now being held to account for his actions."

He added: “Police Scotland is wholly committed to tackling all cases of child abuse, regardless of when the crimes occurred, and we will continue to work alongside our partners to support any victims and ensure offenders are brought to justice.”