A public servant who groped a schoolgirl by putting his hand up her skirt on a crowded tram has been spared jail on appeal, despite being found guilty by a second court.

Marshall Jordan was last year jailed for six months by a magistrate after a girl felt him put a hand up her skirt and touch her thigh several times as she prepared to get off the 86 tram in Northcote on May 4, 2015.

Marshall Jordan has been spared time in jail. Credit:Jason South

The girl, who was 14 at the time, turned to Jordan and yelled: "How dare you, you bloody bastard."

Jordan responded that he hadn't done anything but got off the tram and attempted to change his appearance by removing a jacket and putting on gloves.