A YORK sex offender is appealing against his conviction for child abuse as he bids to win back his freedom.

William McKay, 63, known as the "Yellow Van Man", is serving 18 months for indecently assaulting a girl at his mobile shop in a village near York.

He is also on the sex offenders' register for ten years.

Following his conviction, Det Con John Bosomworth praised the courage and perseverance of the teenage girls who gave evidence against him.

He added that some of the young witnesses had to attend court ready to give evidence three times while they were working for their GCSEs and praised their determination.

The strain affected their schoolwork.

He also praised them for having the courage to come forward when public concern about youth crime could lead to adults seeing all teenagers in a bad light.

McKay, of Crossfield Crescent, Fulford, faced three trials. The first had to be abandoned when he disagreed with his lawyers and dismissed them.

The jurors in the second could not decide on their verdict, though they acquitted him of indecently assaulting a second girl.

The third jury convicted him of indecent assault on the first girl. He denied both charges and represented himself.

Updated: 09:09 Friday, April 11, 2003