A woman who was repeatedly abused by her sick paedophile foster dad this week spoke of her relief after he was jailed for almost four years.

Vile James Fairns, 75, pictured right, preyed on vulnerable Emma Orderley when she was just 12-years-old and was sent to live with him and his wife in Saltcoats in 1977.

The predator, of O’Connor Court, posed as a loving foster father to authorities in order to get youngsters into his then home in Cunninghame Road, where he would subject them to horrific sexual abuse, neglect and torture.

Today Emma, now 54, bravely waived her right to anonymity to expose the sick monster’s crimes and spoke of her relief that “someone finally believed her.”

Speaking exclusively to the Herald, an emotional Emma said: “I had to give evidence and stand up and tell the court what he did to me. It was awful. I felt dirty all over again. When the jury came back with a guilty verdict I was shocked, but it felt fantastic. I just thought, finally someone believes me.”

Emma was brought up in the care system and was living in Harley Place Children’s Home in Saltcoats when, at the age of 12, she was told they had found her a foster family. She was sent to stay with Fairns and his now deceased wife for weekends at first. But Emma says the abuse began instantly.

She said: “I was so excited. I thought I was going to be going somewhere and have parents who would look after me. I thought I would be safe.

“But the first night I was there I realised that wasn’t going to happen.

“He began abusing me that very first night. He put his hands inside my pants and my clothes and fondled me. I felt so scared. I just froze while he was doing it. It was horrible.

“I reported him to staff at Harley Place and I was told to shut up and sent back the following week and he abused me again.”

Emma was one of five girls sent to Fairns at that time.

She said: “He would starve us and refuse to give us food. He told us that our real families did not care about us and all we had was him.

“One time he chased one of the kids with a dead mouse and she was terrified. He went out of his way to be cruel to us. It was torture.”

Vile Fairns was convicted by a jury at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week and sentenced to three years and nine months for the sexual abuse and ill treatment of five young girls in his care when he was a 33-year-old man.

The court heard he struck on various dates between 1977 and 1984, but Emma says he fostered well in to the 1990s so the full tally of victims could be a lot more.

She said: “I think he must have fostered at least 25 kids between the 70s, 80s and 90s. We don’t know actually when he stopped.

“He walked into court with a big smirk on his face. The Sheriff went through him in court when he sentenced him. He told him his crimes were disgusting and he had shown no remorse.”

Emma’s supportive husband Terry, 56, added: “Emma has been through so much with this and she just wants people to know who he is and what he has done so she can move forward.”

Emma, of Central Avenue in Ardrossan, added: “I’ve has been left with PTSD, a lot of mental health issues and I have tried to commit suicide in the past.

“I don’t know how many victims he had, but I do know I’m not the only one. Hopefully if there are they might feel strong enough to come forward now. I feel now like I’m a survivor, not a victim. I survived him. He is going to stare at the same four walls for the next four years but I can finally start living.”

Detective Inspector Susan Milloy: “I welcome the conviction and sentencing of Fairns. His actions towards the young victims, who should have been safe in his care, were despicable.

“I pay tribute to them as they somehow found the bravery to come forward.”