AN AYRSHIRE woman who starred in a controversial documentary series has been warned the sex offenders register was 'not a pleasant place to be' after assaulting a man and exposing her breasts in Cumnock.

Dayna McLaughlan will be assessed for a strict regime of drug treatment and testing after she admitted charges of sexual assault and threatening or abusive behaviour.

The 32-year-old, who appeared in the BAFTA-winning BBC series The Scheme 14 years ago, barged into a man’s home in the town’s Wylie Crescent on October 4, 2023, demanding a cigarette.

She then pushed the man on to a bed, jumped on top of him and tried to kiss him.

The incident happened just a few weeks after McLaughlan removed her jacket outside her own home in the same street, exposing her breasts and gesticulating in an aggressive manner outside a separate address.

Sentence on McLaughlan, who pleaded guilty in May, had been deferred to allow social workers time to prepare a background report on her.

Procurator fiscal depute Alasdair Millar told Ayr Sheriff Court: "The witness was a neighbour, who was in the kitchen of her property when she was told by her 13-year-old daughter that Dayna McLaughlan was outside in the street.

"The witness looked outside and saw the accused remove her jacket, thereafter exposing her naked breasts. It was two o’clock in the afternoon.

"The accused began shouting for her pet cat. She stayed outside for a few minutes then went back into the property.

"Five minutes later, the witness had moved to the living room, and observed the accused at the window in her own home, giving the witness the middle finger. 

"The witness went to her own front door and shouted to the accused, asking what she was doing. The accused began shouting and screaming at the witness. 

"The accused shouted 'I don't know what's f***ing in you' and called her a "fat f***ing w***e'. It was noted the accused was in a state of intoxication.

"In relation to charge one, the Crown does not intend to suggest there was a significant sexual element to that charge.

Describing the sex assault at a separate address on the street, Mr Millar said "At 8.45pm the witness and a friend were in the home address of the witness.

"At that time the accused attended the door asking for a cigarette. The accused was known to the witness. She was let in, but it was indicated she was to remain at the door.

"He made his way to the rear bedroom and she followed him in. She took off her coat at the bottom of the bed. The accused was also sitting on the bed.

"The accused stood up, made her way round, stood in front of the witness and pushed him onto the bed. She pushed him down on his back and the accused jumped on top of him attempting to kiss him. 

"The witness did not want that, and attempted to get the accused away.

"He left the bedroom, entering the toilet in an attempt to distance himself from the accused."    

McLaughlan was the subject of a bail order at the time of the offence.

Not guilty pleas to several other charges were accepted after a deal was struck with prosecutors ahead of a trial at Ayr Sheriff Court.

Defence solicitor Scott Agnew said: "Ms McLaughlin has now moved town, to Gillsburn Gardens, Kilmarnock. Moving away to a new town has been one positive step.

"Her misuse of drugs started at nine years old and has been a common thread in her adult life. 

"She is thoroughly embarrassed, particularly in respect of charge one, which was witnessed by children. 

"She has cooperated fully with the criminal justice social worker who has prepared a background report.

"For the first time, she feels she has turned a corner. 

"There are no analogous convictions and she was made subject to the notification requirements."

Sheriff Desmond Leslie said: “Ms McLaughlan, I’m not really encouraged by anything in this report, to be honest. 

"These are very serious matters, sufficiently so to get you on the sex offenders register.

"That is the truth of the matter, and that’s not a pleasant situation to be in. 

"Your drug misuse is very concerning. You will end up killing yourself if it continues.

"You could get some help if I sent you to jail. But I'm going to trust you to try and help yourself."

McLaughlan will now be assessed to see if she is suitable for a drug treatment and testing order, a programme of intensive treatment and random testing which is aimed at tackling offending linked to a person's significant drug misuse. 

Bail was continued and McLaughlan will return to court at a later date.