A MAN plied a youngster with alcohol at his Greenock home before indecently assaulting him.

James Giff, 57, poured drinks for the 15-year-old before putting his hands inside the boy’s underwear.

When he pulled away, Giff began ‘growling like a dog’ and baring his teeth before being struck on the face by the terrified teen.

As he appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court, right, shamed Giff pled guilty to indecent assault and supplying alcohol to the victim in July 2007. The incident came to light when the boy told a teacher about the assault and he was encouraged to report it to the police.

Giff also pled guilty to a similar incident involving an 18-year-old male whose boxer shorts he tried to pull down.

That incident happened on 4 September last year and he was again struck on the face by his victim, who then fled his flat.

Depute fiscal Pamela Brady told the court that the first incident happened in Giff’s kitchen at his Finch Road home.

She said: “The accused had a bottle of alcohol and poured drinks.

“He recalls a number of drinks being poured for him which was a novel experience as he was just 15. Five drinks were poured.

“He sat with the accused in the kitchen area and he felt quite drunk.” The court heard that Giff then made a disgusting inappropriate remark before groping the teenager. Ms Brady continued: “He was told ‘You don’t have to tell anyone about this, I’m going to bed’.

“The accused then stood up and began to act in a bizarre manner, growling at him like a dog and showed his teeth.

“The victim was scared and elbowed the accused, striking him on the jaw with his elbow.” The other incident happened on 4 September this year when an 18-year-old male staying at Giff’s flat was given a vodka and orange.

The court heard that the victim was aware that there was a police investigation into allegations against Mr Giff at this time.

Ms Brady said: “The accused asked him to stand up and then grabbed his boxer shorts and pulled them down. The complainer pulled them back up and lashed out, punching the accused on face.

“He felt shocked and angry about what had happened. He had trusted the accused despite the ongoing investigations. He called a taxi company and the taxi driver noticed he was distressed and upset. When he asked him what was wrong, the complainer said that a man had interfered with him.” Giff pled guilty to breaking bail conditions by allowing another 18-year-old male into his home in Finch Road on 27 March 2013.He also admitted breaking bail on 8 September 2013 by repeatedly contacting his first victim via Facebook.

Advocate Tony Lenaghan said his client had never previously been in any trouble.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton deferred sentence for reports until next month and Giff was granted bail.

He has been placed on the sex offenders register.