THE prosecution of a man charged with sending sexualised messages to a female he is said to have thought was a child has been delayed — because he slept-in for a pre-trial psychiatric assessment.

Gordon Mair, 37, is accused of having indecent online communications for 'sexual gratification or causing humiliation, distress or alarm' to a person he thought was aged between 13 and 16.

Mair's jury trial was due to get under way at Greenock Sheriff Court but his failure to take part in a video link meeting with a psychiatrist last month meant it had to be postponed.

His lawyer, Edel McGinty, told the court: "Regrettably there is a defence motion to adjourn the trial diet.

"Mr Mair was due to have an assessment on May 13 and I have received confirmation that he did not attend for this appointment.

"He said he slept in."

Ms McGinty said her client's sleep pattern had been altered by a change in GP-prescribed medication.

She added: "He tells me that his GP is supportive of the difficulties he's experienced as a result of the change of medication."

Mair — who is said to have committed the alleged sex offence between May and July 2019 at Wemyss Bay and elsewhere — was at risk of being remanded in custody over his no-show.

Sheriff Joseph Hughes continued his bail after being informed that the psychiatrist commissioned by Ms McGinty would not do a consultation if Mair was in prison.

Prosecutor Mark Nicol said: "I'm not going to oppose the motion [to adjourn], it is something that has to take place and it is in the interests of justice that it does."

Sheriff Hughes told Mair: "This is not something that is going to float in the air and not not happen. It must happen."

The trial is now due to take place in August.