AN ABERDOUR man who sexually assaulted a female as she slept on the sofa in her living room has been sentenced.

The victim had considered Connell Ross a friend and allowed him to stay in her home but he repaid this by groping her in her sleep.

Fortunately, the woman woke up before Ross could go any further.

The incident has resulted in Ross being placed on the sex offenders' register and he was also given a community payback order with 100 hours of unpaid work and 12 months’ supervision.

Ross, 21, of Humbie Terrace, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He previously admitted that on June 15, at an address in Inverkeithing, he sexually assaulted a female by touching her leg over her clothing and rubbed his hand towards her inner thigh.

Depute fiscal Laura McManus told the court that Ross and the female were friends at the time and sometimes had nights out together but were not in a relationship.

They had been out socialising and she had allowed Ross to stay overnight at her home.

He was in a bedroom and the host was sleeping in her living room on a sofa.

She woke up when she felt her leg being touched over her clothing and when she looked around, Ross was there.

“He jumped up from the floor and ran up the stairs. At this point the complainer did not think too much of it and went back to sleep,” added the depute.

However, about 10 minutes later, she woke up again to find Ross standing over and watching her.

He claimed he was just checking to make sure she was asleep and he went back upstairs, said Ms McManus.

Ross left her house in the morning and then messaged her apologising for his actions.

The victim told her mother what had happened and the police were contacted.

Ross “made full admissions” when interviewed by the police, said the depute.

Defence solicitor Elaine Buist said: “He’s taken full responsibility from the outset. He’s been dismissed from his job as a result of this conviction.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair told Ross: “You have admitted you were sexually attracted towards the complainer and you took steps to fulfil these issues. Luckily, you only got to a fairly low-level assault before she woke up.”