A golf course manager made sexual comments to a young female apprentice.

James Naylor, 38, has now been ordered to do unpaid work and been put on the sex offenders register over his inappropriate attempts at “workplace banter”.

Naylor, of Warout Road, Glenrothes, appeared for sentencing at Alloa Sheriff Court.

As previously reported by the Advertiser, he admitted that between September 1, 2022, and March 1 last year, at Alloa Golf Club, he communicated indecently and made sexualised comments towards a female.

Sheriff Neil Bowie imposed a community payback order with 100 hours of unpaid work and nine months of supervision. Naylor was put on the sex offenders register for the same period.

Naylor was course manager and head greenkeeper at Alloa Golf Club at the time of the offences.

The target of his comments was a 17-year-old apprentice greenkeeper, who eventually quit her job because of his behaviour, which included making comments about her breasts and her bottom.

In March last year, she was signed off sick due to feeling very anxious about going to work.

Sheriff Bowie told Naylor: “Whether you thought this was workplace banter or not, it was not. It had a significant effect on this young girl.

“She was working for you and she was half your age. She left her employment as a result of your conduct.”