A SERIAL child sex offender who groomed girls as young as 15 with the offer of underage tattoos before sexually assaulting them has been told he faces a life sentence.

Paul McLellan was convicted after a three week trial of a total of 22 charges - 12 of illegally giving tattoos to girls under the age of 18 and 10 sexual offences.

Dundee Sheriff Court was told that McLellan has two previous convictions for sexual offences against young girls.

Fiscal depute Douglas Wiseman told the court that as part of his licence conditions McLellan was banned from approaching or contacting children under the age of 17 in any way, shape or form.

A sheriff was due to sentence McLellan yesterday but said his maximum powers of five years imprisonment were not enough.

Instead, McLellan will now be sent to the High Court, and was told he potentially faces being monitored by authorities until he dies after he is eventually released from jail.

Sheriff George Way said: "You are a person who is a considerable danger to young girls."