A Leven man who pinned a taxi driver by her seatbelt before putting his hand up her skirt has narrowly escaped a prison sentence.
Graham Hay was instead placed on a curfew after being convicted of the July 2021 attack.
The 58-year-old was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
Sheriff John MacRitchie, who found the pervert guilty after a trial, said the incident was part of an escalating pattern of violence towards women.
He said: “I have no doubt whatsoever that the taxi driver…was assaulted by you.
“You are in self-denial and this was, as set out in the reports, due to your alcohol consumption.
“This is a particularly serious matter, having touched your victims thigh under her skirt.
“This was unwanted attention from you.
“You have an appalling history of domestic violence against partners and ex-partners.
“This is escalating violence towards females.”
He said Hay was treading a “fine line” towards a custodial sentence and any further offences could see him locked up.
Trial evidence
The court had previously heard how Hay pinned the driver to her seat by pulling on her seatbelt and then leaned over from the back seat to sexually assault her.
After being taken from Leven to his partner’s home in Dysart, Hay pounced from the back seat after paying the driver, trying to lick and kiss her while she was restrained.
The predator fled after the woman received a phone call.
He left his phone in the taxi by mistake.
At his Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court trial, Hay claimed the driver had tried to kiss him while stuck in her seatbelt but he was found guilty of sexual assault.
The sheriff said: “I didn’t find the accused remotely credible or reliable.”
As well as being made subject to sex offender registration requirements, Hay, of Letham Terrace in Leven, must remain within his home between 6.30pm and 6.30am for the next 180 days.
He was also placed on an 18-month supervision order with several conditions, including informing social workers of all relationships.
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