AN IRVINE man was convicted of making inappropriate sexual comments to a vulnerable young girl – while cleared of an allegation of indecently touching her.

George McLelland, 49, was found guilty of the sexual offence towards the young victim when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court for trial earlier in the month.

The complaint against McLelland states he repeatedly made comments of a sexual nature to her at an address in Stevenston in November 29, 2019.

McLelland, of Lomond Place, was found to have made the indecent sexual verbal communications to the child – who was aged 15 years old at the time – for sexual gratification, humiliating or distressing the victim.

However the accused – who was represented in court by defence solicitor Alex Muir when he appeared on Friday, March 12 – was aquitted of a second allegation of unzipping the girl’s top and claims that he touched her leg.

McLelland’s bail was continued following trial and he will return to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court for sentencing later in the year.

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