A TEENAGER has appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in New Cumnock - and of trying to get her to send indecent pictures.

Kieran McLaughlin, 19, faced allegations of sexual assault and sending indecent social media messages when his case called at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.

It’s alleged that Mr McLaughlin sent the sexual written communications to a girl who had not attained the age of 16, “for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing or alarming the victim”.

The accused is alleged to have sent the messages from an address in New Cumnock known to prosecutors on November 10 last year.

It’s claimed Mr McLaughlin sent the girl Snapchat messages asking her to send indecent pictures of herself.

The charge alleges he also offered to send the girl intimate pictures of himself.

The Crown also claims that Mr McLaughlin sexually assaulted the girl at a property in New Cumnock on November 11.

The indictment laid down by His Majesty’s Advocate claims that Mr McLaughlin repeatedly seized the girl by the body and pulled her towards him, repeatedly attempted to kiss her, seized her upper inner thigh and pulled her on to a bed on top of him.

The case called at Ayr Sheriff Court last week, when defence solicitor Robert Logan said Mr McLaughlin, described in court papers as being resident at His Majesty’s Young Offenders Institution in Polmont, Stirlingshire, was pleading not guilty to the charge.

The first diet hearing, on Wednesday, March 1, was adjourned. Mr McLaughlin was returned to custody and will be brought back to to court to face the allegations again at a later date.

Any information on criminality can be reported to Police Scotland by contacting officers on 101. In an emergency always dial 999.