TWO men have been found guilty of physically abusing young girls over a period of several years.

In the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court were friends Alan Johnston, 41, of Hillfield Road, Inverkeithing, and James Stewart, 53, of Burnside Crescent, Rosyth.

Three girls were the victims of violence regularly when they were young.

One of the victims, now an adult, told the court that when she was a child, Stewart held her by the ankles and then plunged her head-first into a bath of cold water as a punishment.

The witness said that she was left with bruises regularly after being smacked, punched and kicked.

The jury found Stewart guilty of two charges.

On various occasions between June 18, 2000, and February 18, 2009, he assaulted a young girl, repeatedly removed her clothing, seized her by the body and placed her into baths while he poured cold water over her, placed her over his knee, removed her lower clothing and struck her on the buttocks to her injury.

Between April 19, 2000, and February 18, 2009, he assaulted a second child by repeatedly seizing her by the body and pulling her from her bed, struck her on the head and body, placed her into baths of cold water and immersed her head under water, punched and kicked her on the head and body, placed her over his knee, removed her lower clothing and struck her on the buttocks to her injury.

Johnston was found guilty of three charges.

Between June 18, 2000, and February 18, 2009, he assaulted a young girl by repeatedly punching and kicking her on the head and body, seized hold of her body, pulled and pinned her to the ground, struck her on the head and buttocks with his hands and tripped her up, causing her to fall to the ground and struck her head all to her injury.

Between April 19, 2002, and February 18, 2009, he assaulted a second girl by repeatedly punching and kicking her on the body, placed her over his knee, removed her lower clothing and struck her on the buttocks, all to her injury.

On various occasions between July 13, 2002, and February 18, 2009, he assaulted a third girl by repeatedly striking her on the head and body, kicked her on the body and tripped her up, causing her to fall to the ground all to her injury.

Sheriff Charles MacNair called for reports and Stewart and Johnston will return to court for sentencing on October 31.