Man put on probation for a year after sex assault

A man who sexually assaulted a 17-year-old schoolgirl, who was working alone in a small country shop, and later followed and accosted her in his van as she walked home, has been placed on probation for a year.

John Ring, aged 47, of 35 Dunbeag, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, initially pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the transition year student at the shop in north Galway on July 22, 2014, when he appeared for trial before Galway Circuit Criminal Court in December.

He also denied a second charge of harassing the girl while she walked home along a country lane later that day.