A MAN awaits sentence after sexually assaulting a woman in a drunken attack at Christmas while his then partner was sleeping.

Bearded and white-haired Scott Hainey, 53, was ordered to sign the sex offenders register after pleading guilty to assaulting the victim during festive drinks in the early hours of Boxing Day last year.

A not guilty plea to a second charge was accepted by prosecutors after the incident at an address in Patna on December 26, 2021.

The Procurator Fiscal depute said: “The locus of the offence was at her home address. It occurred in the living room.

“All parties were present in house and stayed up late. The accused was under the influence of alcohol as were others.”

After Hainey’s partner was asleep upstairs in the early hours, the court heard he seized the victim by the body.

The fiscal depute continued: “As she passed the accused, he grabbed her with both hands, pulling her close. He moved his hands up and down her body and grabbed her [privates] over her clothes.

"He tried kissing her but managed to avoid this,” adding the victim could feel the accused was aroused.

“She managed to break free and walked across the room.

“At 4am he left the address. This incident caused their separation.

“Nothing was said for a number of months but on October this year was reported to police.

“He was cautioned and charged and made no reply.”

Hainey’s defence solicitor Colin McLaughlin told Sheriff Desmond Leslie he would reserve comment for sentencing when the case called in court last week [Wednesday, December 21].

Sheriff Leslie adjourned the case for reports and told Hainey that he would be subject to sex offender notification requirements.

Hainey, of Dalharco Avenue, Patna, will return for sentencing in the new year.