A DUNFERMLINE man has been convicted of sexually abusing a child.

Mark Welsh was found guilty of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards young girls and sexually assaulting one who was under 13 years of age at the time.

He pestered them to tell him about their sexual experiences and told a girl who was under 16 that he would kill himself if she did not say she loved him.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court last week, Welsh, 52, of Carnock Road, Dunfermline, was also found guilty at trial of alarming behaviour towards his former wife.

On various occasions between October 15, 2008 and October 14, 2010, both dates inclusive, at his home, he used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards a girl then over the age of 12 and under the age of 16.

Welsh asked her about her sexual experiences, disclosed to her his sexual experiences, sent her electronic messages, stared at her and her buttocks, touched her on the thigh, pulled her from a horse on to the ground, placed his arms around her, touched her on the face, attempted to kiss her on the face and kissed her on the neck.

The charge said Welsh asked her to tell him she loved him otherwise he would commit suicide.

Also, on various occasions between June 26, 2010 and November 30, 2010, both dates inclusive at his home, he used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards a girl then over the age of 12 and under the age of 16.

He did compel her to lie with him on the sofa, lie behind her, place his arms around her body, cuddle her, kiss her on the neck, push her on the body, lay his body on top of hers, tickle her on the body and chest and did not desist when asked to do so.

Welsh also told her he loved her, asked about her sexual experiences and sent her electronic messages.

On various occasions between December 1, 2010 and June 25, 2011, both dates inclusive at his home, he sexually assaulted a child who had not attained the age of 13, in that he did compel her to lie with him on the sofa, lie behind her, place his arms around her body, cuddle her, kiss her on the neck, push her on the body, lay his body on top of hers, tickle her on the body and chest and did not desist when asked to do so.

He also intentionally directed a sexual verbal communication to her and sent a sexual written communication to her in that he did tell her he loved her, asked her about her sexual experiences and sent her electronic messages.

Welsh also harassed and stalked his wife.

He was found guilty of, on various occasions between September 15, 2013, and October 1, 2015, at his home, addresses in Cairneyhill, Crossford and at Inglis Vets, Halbeath Road, Dunfermline and other locations in Fife, engaging in a course of conduct which caused his then wife fear and alarm.

Welsh accessed her private social media accounts and messages, repeatedly sent her electronic messages, attended at her places of work with gifts, tracked her movements via a mobile phone app, followed her, sent emails and letters to her places of work and to the veterinary authorities and video recorded her.

He will return to court for sentencing on May 15.