A "PREDATORY" sex fiend who preyed on young children and molested a six-year-old girl in her bed has been given a nine year extended sentence.

Ex-convict Andrew Hawthornthwaite, 27, himself abused as a child, fantasised about sex with pre-pubescent youngsters, found indecent contact with them pleasurable and rewarding and thought it was acceptable.

He admitted there were 10 other victims of his deviance, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant, who struck after his release from jail for an almost identical offence, had learned "absolutely nothing," from a sex offenders' programme he had taken part in.

He had crept into the child's bedroom at her Accrington home, thinking of nothing but his own sexual needs.

Sentencing, Judge Barbara Watson said Hawthornthwaite had left his victim frightened and hurt and his behaviour had had a very serious adverse effect on her and her family.

She said: "It is difficult to imagine where a little girl should feel safer other than when she is tucked up in her bed, in her own home, with her mother nearby."

The judge added the defendant, who continued to deny aspects of his deviant sexual nature, had acted in a calculating, premeditated and predatory manner.

He had a long-standing interest in young boys and girls who had been the subject of his sexual fantasies for many years.

Judge Watson said Hawthornthwaite was said to be at a very high risk of reoffending and presented a serious risk of harm to young children. It was necessary to pass a longer than normal sentence to protect the public.

Hawthornthwaite, of Clayton Street, Blackburn, admitted indecent assault. He was sent to custody for six years, with a three year extended licence period.

The defendant was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life, disqualified from working with children and made subject of a restraining order.

David Tempkin, prosecuting, said the defendant, who had been doing some decorating for the victim's family, stayed the night at their home.

In the early hours the little girl's mother was awoken by her daughter saying Hawthornthwaite had been in her bedroom and touched and "rubbed," her. The child explained the defendant had told her to go back to sleep and told her mother she was frightened.

The girl's angry father confronted the defendant after being wakened by his wife, who had met Hawthornthwaite on the landing.

The father attacked him but Hawthornthwaite did not retaliate and left the house.

He was later arrested and told police he would not have stayed at the house as he was not allowed to stay with children. Hawthornthwaite told police he had not indecently assaulted the six-year-old and she was lying.

Mr Tempkin said the defendant went to prison for nine months in 1999 for indecent assault on a child.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Hawthornthwaite had pleaded guilty to the offence and not taken it to trial even though acquittal rates for such allegations were extremely high.

He had received some "summary justice," from the victim's father.

In some ways Hawthornthwaite was wholly inadequate in coping with normal adult life. He was abused as a child by two family members over nine years and could not seek and form a relationship with an adult.

Experts believed the defendant needed eight to 12 months treatment. If while in custody he did not receive help, he would come out in the same position.

Mr Stuart said Hawthornthwaite did not want to keep going to prison and serving longer and longer sentences.

He continued: "Neither does he want any interest in young children. It is not something he wishes upon himself.

"He recognises he needs help.

"This is no life for him whatsoever. He wants to be able to form an adult relationship and wants not to have the fantasies he has had."