A Moray man has admitted sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl after getting her drunk by buying her vodka.
Marcus Hildebrandt, of Buckie, pleaded guilty to kissing the teenager on the mouth and slapping her thigh while she had a sleepover with friends.
Earlier that night, on October 14 last year, the 30-year-old bought the girl and her three friends, aged 13, 14 and 15, two bottles of vodka from a Lossiemouth store.
After returning to a Duffus property Hildebrandt, who is originally from Poland, joined the girls in drinking the alcohol before sexually assaulting the child.
Yesterday Hildebrant, of Titness Street, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and buying alcohol for a young person when he appeared in the dock at Elgin Sheriff Court.
Fiscal Alex Swain told the court the girls asked him to buy the alcohol for them but he said to them that he would pay for it.
She said: “He returned with two bottles and engaged them in conversation and began drinking, he is described as consuming the majority of a bottle.
“He then began speaking in a sexualised manner towards them all. At one stage he slapped the girl on the back of the thigh, close to her bottom. He was told to leave the room but refused and began rubbing her ankle.
“When he left he said something. The girl followed him into another room to ask him what he said and he proceeded to kiss her on the mouth for about five seconds.”
Witnesses reported hearing “shouting and screaming” during the night as an argument ensued between the 30-year-old and the girls.
The following day the girl was too uncomfortable to recount the incident to her mother’s face. Police were contacted when the teen sent her a message detailing the attack.
Defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank reserved making any statement in mitigation until his client’s next court appearance.
Sentence was deferred until August 3 for reports to be prepared.