A DUNFERMLINE man who sexually assaulted a young girl has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Mark Welsh, 52, of Rosegreen, Carnock Road, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

During a trial last month, he had been found guilty of using lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour against two girls – one aged under 13 at the time.

He asked them about their sexual experiences and told one of them he would commit suicide if she didn't tell him she loved him.

On various occasions between October 15, 2008, and October 14, 2010, both dates inclusive, at Rosegreen, Carnock Road, he used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour against a girl aged over the age of 12 and under the age of 16.

He asked her about sexual experiences, disclosed to her his sexual experiences, sent her electronic messages, stared at her, stared at her buttocks, touched her on the thigh, pulled her by the body from a horse onto the ground, placed his arms around her body, touched her on the face, attempted to kiss her on the face, kissed her on the neck and 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 the same location, he used lewd and indecent behaviour towards another girl aged older than 12 and younger than 16.

He compelled her to lie with him on a sofa, lay behind her, placed his arms around her body, cuddled her, kissed her on the neck, pushed her on the body, lay his body on top of hers, tickled her on the body and chest and did not desist when asked to do so, told her he loved her, asked her about her sexual experiences and sent her electronic messages.

He also, between December 1, 2010, and June 25, 2011, both dates inclusive, at Rosegreen, sexually assaulted the same girl who was under 13 when he compelled her to lie with him on a sofa, lay behind her, placed his arms around her body, cuddled her, kissed her on the neck, pushed her on the body, lay his body on top of hers, tickled her on the body and chest and did not desist when asked to do so.

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

Welsh was also found guilty of a charge that on various occasions between September 15, 2013, and October 1, 2015, both dates inclusive, at Rosegreen and properties in Cairneyhill and Crossford, at Inglis Vets in Halbeath Road and other locations in Fife, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused fear and alarm to his then wife.

He 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.

Solicitor Roshni Joshi said the offences were all historical in their nature.

"He appears at the age of 52 as a first offender," she said. "The matter has been hanging over him for about four years now.

"There is nothing to suggest he poses any ongoing risk. He continues to reside at the address with his new wife. They remain in a relationship and the business is in her hands.

"The notifications requirement will have a huge impact on the nature of the business and he intends to be an employee of this. He accepts these are serious matters but, in the circumstances, I ask that it can be dealt with by the imposition of a community payback order."

Sheriff Craig McSherry placed him on a community payback order with supervision for 12 months and a requirement to do 200 hours of unpaid work within nine months.

Welsh will also be placed on the the sex offenders' register for 12 months.