SCOTLAND’S Sentencing Council for criminal law is under pressure to review its sexual assault guidelines, after a teenager was given a full discharge.

Late last year Christopher Daniel was convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl over a two-year period.

The victim was between six and eight over the time period, and Mr Daniel was between 15 and 17.

But Sheriff Gerald Sinclair spared him a criminal record on the grounds his offence was thanks to “inappropriate curiosity” rather than “for the purpose of sexual gratification.”

Mr Daniel will not have to sign onto the sexual offences register either.

Now Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson has written to the Sentencing Council calling for it to issue new guidance.

He wrote: “I am deeply concerned that as well as the distress the verdict has caused for the victim’s family, there is a risk of disillusionment and lack of confidence in our sheriffs.

“I would ask that in light of the recent choice not to pass sentence on Christopher Daniel and the public response, the Sentencing Council consider making developing guidelines on sexual assault, giving particular attention to sentencing of young people, a matter of urgency.”