A FORMER student who rubbed his groin in front of two women at a railway station has been placed on the sex offenders register.
Satender Kumar, who came to Scotland from India to complete a university course, has been ordered to carry out work in the community for his offence.
The first-time offender admitted to causing two women at Irvine railway station to look at a sexual image displayed on his phone of a person carrying out a sex act on February 7 last year.
Kumar, of Kilmarnock, then intentionally engaged in sexual activity in the presence of the women when he touched himself.
The 21-year-old appeared with an interpreter at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on May 13 for sentencing after pleading guilty to the two charges at a trial.
Defence solicitor Brian Holliman said: “You will not be surprised to read his attitude to the offence. He maintains his denial.
“The single fact of this that is least clear is his current status. I think that the accurate reflection is that his student visa has effectively expired and he is meeting with the Home Office regularly regarding his status against these proceedings.
“He tells me that he has submitted an application for asylum. He travelled to Scotland from India and was supported in that by his father.”
Kumar’s solicitor added that his family financially support him with living costs.
He continued: “His university course was brought to an end because of these proceedings. Despite that being the reason for travelling to Scotland, he remains undecided if he wishes to return to India.
“This is his first conviction of any sort. Having regard to the nature of the offences he was convicted of and notwithstanding the potential logistical difficulties, I would submit that a community payback order is an appropriate disposal.”
Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart placed him on a community payback order under social work supervision for 18 months and he must complete 220 hours of unpaid work in half of that time.
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