A child rapist who abused four girls has lost an appeal against his sentence.

Eric Rafferty was jailed for 15 years after abusing the girls, aged between six and 12, in Aberdeen.

He wanted to be let out early, however, and applied to the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Judges dismissed the 69-year-old's application after a brief hearing in Edinburgh on Thursday.

Lord Drummond Young said: "We consider it is necessary to mark society's abhorrence of conduct of this nature."

"We do not think any criticism can be made of the period of 15 years selected by the judge," he added.

Rafferty, formerly of Fraser Court, Aberdeen, repeatedly raped two of the girls he abused.

He watched the judges give their decision by TV link from HMP Grampian, where he is being held.

Rafferty committed the offences between 1982 and 1990 and will be in his mid-80s by the time he is released.