A man who indecently assaulted a woman during a party at his East Kilbride home has avoided prison.
John Lawrie, 23, was placed on the sex offenders' register when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
However, Sheriff Thomas Millar decided not to jail the first offender after being given a "very positive" background report by social workers.
Lawrie denied carrying out the attack in Sandpiper Drive in December 2019.
A jury found him guilty but deleted an allegation that he acted with intent to rape the woman.
The court heard that Lawrie grabbed and kissed her, shoved her on to a bed and indecently assaulted her.
Defence advocate Patricia Baillie said Lawrie maintained the sexual contact was consensual, but he accepted the jury's verdict.
She told the court: "There have been positive changes in his lifestyle since this incident.
"He no longer drinks alcohol to excess as he did that night and doesn't party into the early hours.
"He has written that he 'truly regrets' any distress caused to the victim and her family, and his own family.
"He enjoyed a stable, happy upbringing and has a girlfriend with whom he spends much of his time. His family supports him."
The court heard that Lawrie lost his job as a result of the case and is on medication for depression.
Urging Sheriff Thomas Millar not to jail him, Ms Baillie added: "He is assessed as being of minimum risk of re-offending and social workers say he can be managed safely in the community.
"This offence happened after all present had been drinking. There appears to have been no degree of planning.
"A custodial sentence would have a devastating impact on his life."
Sheriff Millar noted the victim believed that, had Lawrie not been drinking to excess, the offence would not have happened.
He told the accused: "There is a very positive background report. You have not been in trouble before or after this."
Lawrie will be under social work supervision for a year and will be on the sex offenders' register for the same period.
He must carry out 300 hours of unpaid community work and will be confined to his home between 10pm and 6am each day under a three-month electronic tagging order.
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