A MAN has appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Ayr after climbing into her bed naked and refusing to leave.

Fraser John Petrie is alleged to have committed the assault at the woman's home in the town on October 1 last year.

The 49-year-old is also accused of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour at the woman's home address between October 1 and 24.

Mr Petrie, of Morrison Court, Grangemouth, is alleged to have entered the woman's bedroom and lain on her bed while naked before going under the covers. 

The indictment claims that he seized the woman by the legs, pulled her on to the bed, pulled down her shorts and exposed himself.

Charge two on the indictment alleges that he engaged in a course of abusive behaviour towards the same woman by repeatedly refusing to leave her home when asked, calling her, sending her an "excessive number" of messages and also sending her a letter while knowing further contact was unwanted.

It's alleged he also called her an abusive name in the communications. 

Mr Petrie's defence counsel told the court his client intended to plead guilty to charge two and not guilty to charge one.

But procurator fiscal depute Alasdair Millar asked for more time for the Crown to consider its position, and in particular to speak to the woman named in the charges, before deciding whether or not to accept Mr Petrie's pleas.

Sheriff Desmond Leslie agreed to the prosecution's request and continued Mr Petrie's bail. 

The case is due to call again next month.