A "habitual" sex offender who lured young girls to his flat by offering them tattoos then sexually assaulting them has been jailed for a third time.
Paul McLellan, 44, carried out the illegal tattoos at his home in Dundee, then sexually assaulted the girls.
He was found guilty of 10 sexual offences and 12 related to illegally tattooing girls under 18 at a trial at Dundee Sheriff Court in November.
Sheriff George Way said his powers were inadequate to sentence him and referred the case to the High Court in Aberdeen. Yesterday Judge Lord Uist put the sex offender on a lifelong restriction and jailed him for five years.
Lord Uist said: "It is clear to me that you are a habitual and incorrigible offender. You sought out your young female victims by claiming to be a tattooist."
He said a report on McLellan assessed him as a being a high risk to the public. "I'm in no doubt that a lifelong restriction is justified and in order," he added.
McLellan had denied all charges.
Dundee Sheriff Court had been told that in 2003 he was jailed for three years in England for two sexual assaults on young girls.
He later returned to Dundee, and in 2006 he was convicted for sexual offences against girls under the age of 16 and was jailed for four years with a three-year extension on licence.
He was still on licence from his 2006 offences when he committed his most recent crimes.
Yesterday at the High Court in Aberdeen Lord Uist warned the sex offender that he could face more than five years in jail if the Parole Board of Scotland believes he is still a risk to the public.
McLellan was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
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