Girl, 12, sexually assaulted after meeting online gaming partner

A 12-year-old Fife girl with learning difficulties was sexually assaulted by a teenage boy she met through an online games site.

The incident occurred in 2005 and it was 10 years before the victim could bring herself to tell anyone.

The subsequent police investigation led to Andrew Gregory appearing in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Gregory, 26, of Glenartney Terrace, Perth, was 14 when he carried out the attack.

He admitted that on an occasion between January 1 and December 31 2005, at The Den, Kennoway, he indecently assaulted a girl, then aged 12, by touching her breasts over and under her clothing.

The charge stated that he pushed her and pinned her down, pulled down her lower clothing and attempted to commit a sex act.

Depute fiscal Alex Kirk said: “The complainer was 12 at the time. She has significant mental health difficulties and mild learning difficulties. She met the accused via an online games site’s chat function. He travelled to her home at that time.

“On the day of the offence, they went for a walk in woodland area. It’s a secluded area and he reached over and touched her breasts.”

This was the start of the sexual assault but the girl did not tell anyone until March 2015 when she spoke to a social worker. The court was told unemployed Gregory has Asperger syndrome and was isolated as a child. He has no previous convictions.

Sheriff Charles MacNair called for reports and Gregory will be sentenced on September 11. He was placed on the sex offenders register with immediate effect.