A man sexually assaulted a young mum in front of her young children in Dundee city centre on Sunday afternoon.
Aaron McClintock, 26, walked up behind the woman, who was walking in Nethergate with her mother, her sister and her two children and grabbed her between the legs and felt her buttocks.
McClintock, of County Tyrone, later told police he was only “having a laugh”.
Depute fiscal Laura Bruce told the court the family had been for lunch and had been shopping.
She said they were in Nethergate when the victim suddenly felt someone grabbing her in between the legs with an open hand from the rear.
She said the woman started to turn her head around as she initially thought it might have been someone she knew.
But when she saw the accused she said: “What do you think you’re doing?”
The accused replied: “I’m just having a laugh.”
The court heard the woman’s mother pointed out he had just assaulted her daughter and called police.
The accused was seen to enter the Trades House pub on Union Street and police arrested him there.
He told them: “I was only joking. I was walking down the road and I pinched her a***.
“I slapped her a***. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Solicitor Michael Creegan said his client wished to apologise to the woman, saying he didn’t realise he would end up in court.
“He is very sorry for his actions and he now realises what is coming to him in relation to this matter.”
Sheriff Kenneth McGowan ordered McClintock to pay £400 compensation to his victim at £50 per week and placed him on the sex offenders register.