A POLICE officer who carried out sex attacks on two women along with a string of assaults has been warned he faces a substantial prison sentence.

A judge refused to allow Kevin Storey to remain on bail after he was convicted of eight charges against three women and a child and remanded him in custody.

Judge Paul Arthurson QC told the former Lothian & Borders force sergeant: "These are extremely serious offences."

The judge told Storey that because of the gravity of the crimes it was near inevitable that he would receive a substantial prison term when he returns to court next month for sentencing.

First offender Storey, aged 48, of Quarrydene, Melrose, Borders, had denied a string of charges, but was convicted by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh of rape, attempted rape, indecent assault and assault committed at various locations in the Borders.

Storey maintained the allegations were false and he never laid a finger on his victims. But the prosecution said there was "a clear course of conduct" over the physical abuse of victims.

Defence counsel Shelagh McCall asked the judge to allow him to remain on bail for the preparation of a report, but the move was rejected.