A MAN who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in New Cumnock has been released from custody after dodging a jail sentence. 

Kieran McLaughlin repeatedly touched 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.  

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart had 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 was returned to detention in Polmont.

When he returned to Ayr Sheriff Court, the accused, represented by defence solicitor Colin McLaughlin, was placed under supervision for 30 months as part of a community payback order.

He will be kept on the sex offenders register for the same period.

During that time he must disclose all relationships to his supervisors and can only live in accomodation that has been deemed 'appropriate' by social workers.

He must also not have any unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, and must not approach or contact the victim of his assault or engage with other registered sex offenders.

He was told he must also undertake a community mental health service assessment and undertake any focused work as directed by supervisors.