A SPRINGSIDE man who sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl has been spared a prison sentence.

Donald Mullen, 47, admitted touching the teen's neck and moving his hands down her back at Irvine's Rivergate Mall on March 7 this year.

The charge against Mullen, to which he pleaded guilty, added that he put his hand up the girl's skirt and repeatedly touched her bottom over her clothing.

Mullen, of Croft Terrace, was given a community payback order at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week with a supervision requirement for two years.

A restriction of liberty order was also imposed meaning he will have to wear an electronic tag for monitoring purposes and must remain within his home address between certain times for three months.

He will also be subject to sexual offences certification.

Mullen also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of breaching bail conditions not to be in the company of a child under the age of 16 without supervision.

Having been granted bail in May at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, he failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the order the following month at a property in Springside when he was found to be in the company of two children, both under 16, without supervision.

Mullen was admonished and dismissed on that offence by the sheriff.