A sex offender who forced himself on a woman during a night out in Elgin has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
Christopher Deery, 23, launched the attack on a young woman he had only just met last year.
The 23-year-old, of 213 Clepington Road in Dundee, travelled to Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday to face sentencing.
His solicitor said that after consuming too much drink Deery mistakenly believed himself to be “a Casanova”.
And after hearing that the first offender’s life had been left “in ruins” following the incident, Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov opted not to send him to jail.
Deery was charged with assaulting a woman in the early hours of Sunday, January 24.
He grabbed hold of his victim, placing his hands on her buttocks and repeatedly kissed her on the neck.
Despite her protests, Deery continued the assault by handling her breasts through her clothes and pushing her against a parked car and a wall while holding her neck and attempting to kiss her on the mouth.
Defence agent Alan Lyall said the incident was out of character for Deery.
Mr Lyall added: “He was a perfectly decent man for 22 years up until the few moments where he carried out this offence.
“He was drunk, and met up with the complainer and a friend of hers.
“After drinking so heavily, he appeared to think he was a Casanova.
“My client is truly sorry, since this happened he has lost his job, his relationship and his good name.”
Sheriff Pasportnikov accepted that the “burden” of being placed on the sex offenders register was a serious sanction in itself.
She fined Deery £600 and ordered him to pay the complainer £200 in compensation.
