AN ALLOA man has been placed on the sex offenders’ register after assaulting a woman while she was sleeping.

Bruce Redfern twice groped the young female under her clothing during a party at her house last November.

He later sent an apologetic message to the complainer, adding that he knew his actions were “creepy”.

The 21-year-old appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday to face sentencing for the sexual assault.

Redfern, of Mary Stevenson Drive, had known the complainer for around two years and were members of the same tight-knit friends group.

The court heard that on November 4, 2017, the complainer was having a party at her house to which Redfern was invited.

Fiscal depute Ann Orr told the court in December: “There were no issues during the evening. The complainer’s boyfriend left the party.

“Then, in the early hours, she was sleeping. The accused was lying beside her under the one blanket, which was not unusual.

“At 2am, she was awoken by the accused who was lifting her top and holding her breasts. He stopped when asked to do so.

“She tried to go back to sleep then he did it again. She pretended to be asleep as he did it again.”

Ms Orr went on to say that the complainer asked Redfern to leave in the morning and then told her sister and boyfriend what happened.

She then received a “very lengthy” text message from the accused which offered an apology for his actions.

The text also said that Redfern “knew it was creepy”.

Redfern was said to be concerned about the amount of alcohol the complainer had consumed and took responsibility for her wellbeing. He also felt she was not giving him the attention he felt he deserved from her.

The complainer then contacted the police who detained him.

His lawyer, Jim Savage, originally told the court that his client admitted touching the victim and that he felt he needed to look after her in her inebriated state.

Redfern told police in his interview: “I felt I had to do something to get her attention.

“She said to stop, but I didn’t really listen.”

There has been no contact between the pair since the incident.

Sheriff David Mackie sentenced Redfern to be supervised for a period of 12 months, while also remaining on the sex offenders’ register for that period.