A drunken Fife man who sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and kissed a one-year-old child on the head has been put on the sex offenders register for 18 months.
James Taylor, 35, claimed he could not recall his conduct because he was “significantly under the influence of alcohol” at the time of the incident on November 10 last year.
He appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing having earlier pled guilty to sexual assault and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a Dunfermline street and during the course of a public bus journey from Dunfermline to Leven.
Taylor repeatedly made inappropriate remarks to the 15-year-old girl, repeatedly touched her on the body without her consent, placed his head on her body, stroked her leg and inner thigh with his hand and attempted to kiss her on the lips.
He also shouted, swore, repeatedly caused disturbances during the course of the journey and touched and kissed a one-year-old girl, a child unknown to him, on the head without consent.
‘Embarrassed and ashamed’
Lawyer Lucy Martin, defending, said Taylor has a history of alcohol misuse and dependency and that issues from alcohol and withdrawal have seen him admitted to hospital more than a dozen times between August 2019 and January this year.
Ms Martin told the court Taylor was in Dunfermline that day visiting a family member and has a “vague recollection of boarding the bus but then no memory of his actions”.
The solicitor says this was due to him being “significantly under the influence” at the time following a lapse in abstinence.
Ms Martin said Taylor accepts responsibility for his offending and expresses deep remorse and is “embarrassed and ashamed” by his behaviour that day.
The lawyer said he does not use the fact he was drunk as an excuse for his behaviour.
Ms Martin said Taylor has sought help for his alcohol misuse, including from a GP, and is engaging once a week with the Fife Alcohol Support Service.
The lawyer added: “He says to me he remains motivated to recover from alcohol addiction”.
She said Taylor, of Dick Crescent, Burntisland, is unemployed and has a “limited record”.
Strain on the NHS
Sheriff Susan Duff told Taylor: “You committed these offences on November 10 of 2024 and, notwithstanding, you still ended up in hospital in January this year because of your alcohol abuse and, also as a result of alcohol abuse, you are now a registered sex offender.
“Surely these things would make you want to stop drinking?”
The sheriff pointed out Taylor had been hospitalised 14 times in six years for alcohol-related issues.
“That’s draining resources of the NHS through your self inflicted illness,” she said.
Sheriff Duff placed Taylor on offender supervision for 18 months with specific conditions, as part of a community payback order.
These conditions include Taylor informing his supervising officer of any new relationships he forms, getting accommodation approval from his supervisor, and engaging with a specialist agency offering support on drug and alcohol related issues.
Taylor was put on the sex offenders register for 18 months.
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