KELTY MAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT AT COWDENBEATH HOME
A Kelty man sexually assaulted a child in her bed at a property in Cowdenbeath.Richard Ford, of Limepark Crescent, sexually assaulted a child under the age of 13 between November 18 and November 19 last year.The 33-year-old had been out with his partner in Edinburgh and had consumed alcohol prior to the crime taking place.He later got into a child's bed naked, hugged her, stroked her inner thigh and placed his penis on her leg.His defence solicitor, Lucy Martin, told Dunfermline Sheriff Court that he is a first-time offender and has no cases outstanding.She said: “He is devastated by the offence my lord and fully aware of the impact it had on the complainer and recognises how scared she must have been in the situation.“He expressed deep remorse and sympathy to me from the outset”.She added that Ford accepts that he does still consume alcohol, but not to the extent that he did that day.Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon gave a community payback order with 270 hours of unpaid work and a supervision requirement for 18 months.He was also made liable to sex offender notification requirements for five years.
