The father of a young girl molested by a paedophile has praised the school officials who raised the alarm.

Robert Ferguson was yesterday locked up for four years for the sickening abuse carried out on a naive and vulnerable youngster.

Even as he was being sentenced in the city's crown court, Ferguson, 60, refused to admit his guilt - continuing to deny any wrongdoing.

He was eventually convicted after a trial of intentionally causing or inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Ferguson's abuse had only come to light thanks to the attention of the girl's teacher, who became concerned about a drawing she had done.

When the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was later interviewed by police it emerged she had been asked by Ferguson to keep his offending a secret.

Speaking out after yesterday's sentencing hearing, her father told the News & Star: "The school were very on the ball: as soon as it came about they were straight on the phone to social services to raise their concerns.

"They saw through it and saw what it [the drawing] was immediately."

He continued: "The school has been so supportive to us as well: the teacher and headteacher came to court and gave evidence and have been helping us since.

"The police have also been great and very supportive of us both throughout this, to ensure [my daughter's] welfare comes first."

Ferguson's victim had to attend court twice, after a jury in the original case was unable to reach a verdict. He was convicted after the second trial.

Her father criticised the her abuser for forcing her to endure giving evidence twice - each time sitting in a room next door to the court to speak via video link.

At the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Tim Evans briefly gave graphic details of the abuse.

Kim Whittlestone, defending, referred to Ferguson's "continual denial" of guilt, and told the court: "He is still bewildered by the jury's verdict, and progress needs to be made with that."

"Excellent" character references had been produced in support of Ferguson, who was "highly regarded" at his place of work.

However, Miss Whittlestone conceded Ferguson would now lose both his job and home.

She added: "He is finding custody (since being remanded) extremely difficult. He has been extremely emotional not only on conviction but in a short conversation I have had with him today."

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Hughes QC told Ferguson: "This was a course of conduct where you took advantage of her young age and vulnerability because she would have been - as was obvious from her evidence - grossly naive as to just precisely what you were doing.

"Hopefully, over time, she will have little if no real memory of what occurred."

Ferguson, of Warwick Road, must sign the sex offenders' register and abide by the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order - both for an indefinite period.