A child molester who abused five girls during a catalogue of offending was jailed for four and a half years.

David Parr targeted youngsters over a 19-year period in the Renfrewshire area.

The 68-year-old, of Woodford Place, Linwood, in Renfrewshire, was earlier convicted of attempting to rape one girl and indecency offences towards four others.

A judge told Parr: "You have been convicted by the jury of what can only be described as serious offences."

Lord Bannatyne said at the High Court in Edinburgh that the offending conduct had taken place "over a significant period of time".

The judge said he had read a statement from one of the victims and it was clear that there had been "a major and long-term impact" on her.

Lord Bannatyne said: "There can be only one sentence in a case of this type and that is a significant custodial sentence."

Parr was told that he would be put on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

He preyed on his first victim at addresses in Linwood and Paisley between July 1990 and July 1992 when she aged between five and six.

Parr rubbed himself against the girl and touched her.

He molested another child between May 1997 and May 1999 when she was aged between 10 and 11 in Johnstone and simulated sex with her.

He also tried to rape a nine-year-old at a house in Linwood on an occasion between June 2001 and June 2002.

During a similar period he also molested a 12-year-old in the Renfewshire town.

Parr's final victim was aged between eight and nine when he touched her between August and September in 2009 at a close and veranda area in Linwood.

Defence counsel Louise Arrol told the court that Parr had attended a school which had dealt with his learning difficulties. She said: "He recognises the gravity of the offences."