Sex attacker chased woman along street and grabbed her

The incident happened in broad daylight at about 7.30pm as she stood outside Wetherspoon’s bar on Dunfermline High Street, having a cigarette with a friend.

Simon Dick, who had been pestering the woman earlier in the bar, followed her outside then started chasing her along the street before grabbing her crotch.

Dick, 44, of Robert Adam Drive, Kirkcaldy, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on July 31 at High Street, Dunfermline, he sexually assaulted a female, pursued her and seized her body.

Depute fiscal Jill Currie said, “On this evening, the accused was in Dunfermline town centre on a night out.

“He attempted to strike up a conversation with the complainer and her friends. She felt uncomfortable with the way he was acting.

“At around 7.30pm, she and a friend left the pub to have a cigarette outside in the High Street. They were aware of the accused coming out after them.

“He said something which they could not understand and then he began running towards the complainer in the High Street.

“She ran away and told him to get away from her. The accused continued to chase her, then grabbed her, touching her crotch.

“The accused then made his way down Guildhall Street as the two women confronted him about what he had done. He then apologised for his actions.”

Police were contacted and apprehended Dick, who said when charged: “Never happened.”

Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi said: “He has written a letter of apology for the complainer. He has no memory of the event and the parties are not known to each other.”

Sheriff Alastair Brown called for reports and sentencing will take place on September 30. Dick has been placed on the sex offenders register.