A man with a shoe fetish repeatedly asked young boys if he could lick their trainers for his own sexual gratification, a court heard.

Gary Paterson targeted seven boys, aged between seven and 12, in the Glenrothes area.

The 36-year-old asked the children if he could clean their shoes and then licked them for his sexual gratification, Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard on Thursday.

He was arrested after asking four boys if he could lick their shoes clean on October 23 last year, at Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, Balgonie Avenue and Inverary Avenue.

After being released at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Paterson breached his bail by committing three identical offences two weeks later, on Manse Road, Leslie.

Paterson, of Station Road, Leven, admitted seven counts of directing a sexual verbal communication to children, and breaching bail.

Sheriff Grant McCulloch sentenced him to a 30-month community payback order, including therapy sessions to help him combat his issues.

He said: "The offences you have pled guilty to, though unusual are very serious, and you broke your bail conditions."