James Ross – Glenrothes

Glenrothes man jailed for sexual assault of eight-year-old girl

A Fife man has been jailed for 15 months after sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl during what he described as a “tasting game”.

James Ross, 42, of Lilac Path, Glenrothes, was convicted following a trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court last month.

The court heard that between 2018 and 2019, Ross took the girl into a bedroom, turned off the lights and blindfolded her before beginning a guessing game involving household objects.

He then exposed himself and claimed his penis was a banana, before inducing the child to touch and masturbate him.

Sheriff Robert More said the offence involved a “significant degree of deception”, adding that the psychological impact on the victim could be “significant and lasting.”

Ross, who continues to deny the allegations, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

He had previous convictions for road traffic offences but no previous convictions of a similar nature.

There was a large turnout at the sentencing hearing, with shouting heard from the public gallery as Ross was led from the court.