A SEX attacker who struck four times in the Burnley area has been spared jail - so he can have treatment in a bid to protect the public.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Colin Cooke, 45, had already served 60 days behind bars.

A judge has now ordered he live at a hostel for a year and go on a sex offenders' programme. Cooke, of no fixed address, had admitted four counts of sexual touching.

Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant she had looked at sentencing guidelines which showed that around 26 weeks behind bars was appropriate.

But she said he would only serve half and he had already completed eight weeks on remand.

She said she was not satisfied Cooke would have time to go a sex offenders' programme in prison and it seemed better he live in a hostel and be part of a programme in the community.

Judge Lunt gave the defendant a three-year community order and ordered him to stay at a hostel in Carlisle for 12 months. He was put on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years.