A paedophile convicted of sexually abusing three young boys who played for the football team he was involved with more than 30 years ago has been jailed for more than two years.

Robert Smith, 67, indecently assaulted the children while coaching and managing the team in Glasgow’s Easterhouse area between 1978 and 1987.

An investigation into Smith took place after his youngest victim reported him to police and his sick past was discovered.

The man had confided in a friend before losing touch with her and years later in 2012 when they met again, she urged him to report his ordeal to the police.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Smith, from Maryhill, was convicted of three charges of using lewd and libidinous practices towards the schoolboys on various occasions over the nine-year period until 1987.

Sheriff John McCormick said: “You involved yourself in a football team and used that opportunity to perpetrate a series of serious sexual offences against young boys over a number of years.”

He jailed Smith for 27 months and ordered he be supervised in the community for 11 months following his release from prison and be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.