A MAN who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in New Cumnock has been slammed by a judge for his attitude to the crime.

Kieran McLaughlin, repeatedly seized the girl by the body and pulled her towards him in the attack on November 11 last year.

He also admitted repeatedly attempting to kiss her, seizing her upper inner thigh and pulling her on to a bed on top of him.

McLaughlin was 19 at the time of the incident, but has since turned 20.

He was remanded in custody at HM Young Offenders Institution in Polmont, Stirlingshire, following his guilty plea at an earlier hearing.

A not guilty plea to a second allegation of sending sexually indecent messages was accepted by prosecutors.

Sentencing had been deferred for criminal justice social work reports as well as a psychiatric assessment.

However, Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart raised concerns about McLaughlin's attitude to his offending after he pleaded guilty to the crime.

She added: "This is not some silly offence. This is a sexual offence on indictment.”

Sentencing was further deferred for a previously requested psychological report.

McLaughlin, who was represented by defence solicitor Tony Bone, was returned to detention in Polmont after the hearing.

He will be brought back to court for sentencing at a later date.