Sex attacker ordered by sheriff to pay compensation to victim

A Perth man who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl in a Fife woodlands has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

Andrew Gregory appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and admitted carrying out the attack, which took place in 2005.

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

Sheriff Charles MacNair told Gregory that if such an offence happened today it would be treated as attempted rape but it had to be dealt with under the law as it was at that time.

He imposed a community payback order with three years’ supervision and £1,500 compensation.

Gregory, now 27, had met his victim on an online gaming website before making plans to visit her at her home.

After arriving, he and the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went for a walk in a wooded area known as the Den in Kennoway.

Gregory then indecently assaulted the girl, who has learning difficulties.

The young victim did not tell anyone about the attack at the time but details were revealed during a chat with a social worker in March 2015.

Depute fiscal Alex Kirk said, “The complainer was 12 at the time. She has significant mental health difficulties and mild learning difficulties.

“He travelled to her home at that time. On the day of the offence, they went for a walk in a woodland area. It’s a secluded area and he reached over and touched her.”

The court was told unemployed Gregory has Asperger’s syndrome and was isolated as a child. He has no previous convictions.