No jail for Fife man who slept with four underage girls

A Fife man convicted of having sex with four underage girls avoided a jail sentence.

Ashley Pearson (21) will perform 300 hours of unpaid work and has been placed on the sex offenders register, after committing the offences in locations across Fife between November 2009 and October 2011.

The court heard that Pearson, of Falkland, had been undergoing personal difficulties at the time of the offences and no longer had contact with any of the girls involved.

Sentencing him, Sheriff Charles Macnair said: “You took advantage of four young girls.

“Had this case been on indictment, then the maximum sentence for each offence would have been 10 years in custody. I take into account your personal circumstances, but in a way that makes these offences more serious.”

A change in legislation between the dates of the offences meant that in relation to two charges, Pearson will perform 300 hours of community work and remain under supervision for three years.

In connection with the other two offences, Pearson will be under a restriction of liberty order for nine months.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.