A Ministry of Defence worker from Yate has been jailed for four years for abusing two young children, the Evening Post can reveal.

William Pollintine, 60, was sentenced in Scotland where he committed the offences while working for the MOD at Faslane in the mid 1990s.

Pollintine, who worked at MOD Abbeywood before retiring because of the impending court action, is not expected to lose his pension.

This only happens automatically if an employee is convicted of treason.

An Abbeywood MOD employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I was deeply concerned to find out that a recently retired employee had actually left because of pending legal action he clearly did not want others to know about.

"William Pollintine was recently sentenced by Scottish Courts in May, for child sex offences, carried out in Scotland in 1996.

"He moved to Yate in 2000, when he transferred from the dockyards to Abbeywood – clearly running away from his crimes.

"It's difficult to believe he had not been active before, and worryingly, since. After all, he either fled Scotland, or was 'moved' by his employer."

At Dumbarton Sheriff Court in March a jury heard that Pollintine, of Whitley Close, abused the two youngsters at a series of locations including the Sportsdrome at Faslane Naval Base, between January 1, 1996, and February 28, 1998.

Pollintine refused to admit his guilt, meaning the two people he abused when they were just six and eight years-old had to give evidence at his trial in March.

His victims, now young adults, gave graphic accounts of how they were abused by Pollintine – a family friend who also babysat.

The court heard that Pollintine worked at Faslane when the first offence inv- olving the young boy took place, at the Sportsdrome changing rooms between January 1, 1996, and May 12, 1997.

Pollintine was convicted of using lewd and libidinous behaviour towards the boy, including carrying out a sex act in his presence and touching him inappropriately. The victim, now aged 20, recalled three occasions when Pollintine touched him.

The court also heard that the pervert had abused the schoolgirl between August 1, 1996, and February 28, 1998, at various places including his former home in Helensburgh and at a swimming pool in Coatbridge.

He touched her inappropriately and performed a sex act in her presence.

In mitigation Queen's Counsel, Lorraine Clancy, defending Pollintine, told the court: "He's a 60-year-old man who has worked as a civil servant for most of his life.

"He lives alone. His elderly parents live in the vicinity and he advises he has now chosen to tell them about the matters before the court.

"He's extremely concerned about the effect the period in prison will have on them, but accepts that custody is inevitable."

Sheriff William Dunlop told Pollintine: "This series of events is a sad story of a prolonged course of conduct involving serious abuse of children.

"It's alarming that, even in the face of the clearest of evidence, you continue to deny your part.

"I have to have the interests of the public at the forefront of my mind when imposing sentence.

"Because of the gravity of the crimes, breach of trust involved, and serious nature of offences, I'm anxious to protect the public from serious harm."