A BIGGAR football coach has been jailed for five years for sexually abusing a 10-year-old player.

Mark Ellis, 57, now of Birmingham, preyed on the boy during a string of attacks in 1991 at the time of running a football team and training school in South Lanarkshire.

The victim told the High Court in Glasgow how Ellis had threatened to kill him if he told anyone.

A jury heard how he had also coached boys at Birmingham City.

Ellis was handed a five year jail-term yesterday after being found guilty of lewd and libidinous behaviour.

A spokesman for NSPCC Scotland said: “Ellis exploited his position of trust to carry out horrifying attacks on a child in his care.

“The victim’s parents had every right to believe their son was in safe hands but instead Ellis used this relationship as cover for sickening sexual abuse.

“Ellis may have thought he had got away with his crimes but he is now rightly behind bars as a result of his victim’s bravery in coming forward.

“It is encouraging that victims of past abuse in football are now finding their voice knowing they will be listened to and supported.”