A man who drunkenly pursued a teenager on a bus then sexually assaulted her has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

John Docherty, 63, pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual assault at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.

The court heard that the 17-year-old victim was at a bus stop on Stevenston’s Main Street shortly after 4pm on February 12.

She noticed Docherty nearby, gesturing her over.

He asked the girl for a hug and she declined. She noticed that Docherty was heavily under the influence of alcohol and had a travel alarm clock in his hand.

The girl backed away, but Docherty, from Irvine, put his arms around her, hugging her.

A bus then arrived and Docherty got between it and the girl, preventing her from boarding. He then asked the teen to go back to his house in Irvine. He also asked if she had a boyfriend and suggested that she ditch the boyfriend for him.

The girl kept trying to move away from Docherty and said that a friend was coming to meet her.

A number 11 bus then arrived and the teen boarded and tried to get away from him. Docherty also boarded and asked if they could find a seat together.

He asked another female passenger to move seats.

The teen mouthed: “Help” towards the other passenger, but the woman got up, leaving two seats.

Docherty was making a fuss about this and the girl was embarrassed. He sat next to her, closing her in against the window.

During the course of the journey, he took her hand on two occasions and kissed it. The court heard that the girl was “extremely uncomfortable” and put her hands in her pockets to stop it happening.

She tried to get off the bus, but again Docherty was in her way. She managed to push past him and get off. Docherty followed. The girl went to a friend’s house and police were contacted.

Officers obtained CCTV images which showed Docherty kissing the girl’s hand. He was then traced to his home address through his travel card.

Police, who noted that Docherty appeared “heavily under the influence of alcohol”, then seized his travel card and a small alarm clock.

Docherty’s solicitor, Mr McPhee, said of his client: “Unfortunately he’s heavily under the influence of alcohol at most times, though that is no excuse.”

Sheriff Michael Hanlon deferred sentence until April 26 for reports.

He also placed Docherty on the Sex Offenders Register in the meantime.