An Angus man groped two girls and a woman in broad daylight in Forfar, a court heard.
The town’s sheriff court heard how 27-year-old Bruce Murray touched the buttocks of the two teens and the woman.
Murray, of Market Street, Forfar, previously admitted sexually assaulting a female in West High Street, Forfar on February 2 by touching her buttocks, and on the same date sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl by squeezing her buttock.
He also admitted another offence of sexually assaulting a female by touching her leg and squeezing her buttocks at the Vine & Monkey pub, West High Street on the same date.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said the first complainer was aged 16, the second 14 and the third 44.
“The two girls were walking along West High Street, near the police station, at 8pm,” she said.
“The accused was seen walking behind them and was clearly under the influence of alcohol. He goes behind the first complainer and touches her on the buttock, which the complainer later described as a ‘tap’.
“He proceeds to walk behind the second complainer, and touches her buttock and squeezes it. The complainers didn’t expect that in the main street, in broad daylight, of small-town Forfar.”
Murray went into the nearby pub Vine and Monkey: “clearly inebriated”, and approached the third complainer who was dressed in biker gear.
He touched her leg and then buttock, when she then nudged him away with her elbow, the fiscal added. On being thrown out, she said: “He’s unable to speak, he’s so drunk.
“On being picked up by police he made no reply at interview.”
Murray’s defence agent said her client lives in town with his fiancee, works offshore and only drinks alcohol on special occasions such as Christmas.
“He will not be drinking alcohol again,” she added.
Sheriff Kevin Veal said the offences were not borne out of malice and added: “I have no doubt that this is out of character for the accused and was based on drinking alcohol alone. He was incoherent when spoken to by police.
“We need to draw a line under it.
Murray was fined £300 and ordered to make payment by the end of the month.