An Angus taxi driver was sacked by his employer after he sexually assaulted a teenager, a court heard.
Brian Michie from Brechin appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting the female at his home.
The court heard the 60-year-old had become “attracted” to the teenager and had “made a move” on April 23 this year.
But he was told by a sheriff that words “can’t express” his stupidity at grabbing the young woman’s breast.
The court heard Michie had been working as a private hire driver in the area but was no longer licenced.
Defending Michie, solicitor Robin Beattie said his client had been sacked as soon as the offence was reported to his former employer.
He told the court: “He was previously working as a taxi driver.
“However he was sacked on the day of his initial plea in the court.
“That’s not surprising,” said Sheriff Gregor Murray.
Mr Beattie continued: “I think that’s one of the conditions of being a licenced driver.
“She…was friendly to him, at least until the offence.
“He accepts that he was sexually attracted to her and that was what caused him to make a move.”
Sheriff Murray told him: “Words can’t express your stupidity and the folly of what you did, and you’ll have to pay for that.”
The sheriff imposed a community payback order with supervision requirements, and 125 hours of unpaid work to be completed within nine months.
Michie was placed on the interim sex offenders register at his plea, and will remain on the register for the term of the order.
Michie, of Drumachlie Park, admitted a single charge on summary complaint of sexually assaulting the woman by touching her breast, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act (Scotland) 2009.
