A sex offender who repeatedly grabbed a 15-year-old girl’s buttocks in the street treated the sexual assault as a “joke”, a court heard.
Marcell Grigoreanu, 20, appeared at Oban Sheriff Court for sentencing yesterday, where he was placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for five years and fined £1,000.
Grigoreanu, a joiner, of London Road, Glasgow, previously pleaded guilty to committing the offence near Costa Coffee on Station Road, Oban, on November 12.
He admitted to sexually assaulting the teenager by touching her on the body, repeatedly seizing her on the buttocks and seizing hold of her clothing.
Solictor Edward Thornton said Grigoreanu was now living in Glasgow and had secured work on an extension to Edinburgh Airport. He said: “He is working seven days a week. He is saving up to get married, his fiancee lives in Romania. August 2019 is the date for the marriage.
Sheriff Patrick Hughes said he was concerned about Grigoreanu’s attitude to the offence. He said: “I am concerned by the attitude you have shown to this offence, in particular by the suggestion that you see this matter as some kind of a joke. I have to tell you now, the court takes this matter extremely seriously.
“For a child to be accosted and groped in a public street at night, it has obviously been very distressing for the complainer.
“Having regard to what has been said on your behalf, I’m satisfied that custody can be avoided.”
He added: “The fine must be of a level to bring home to you the gravity of the offence.”