A MAN who allowed youngsters playing truant from school to stay at his flat ended up indecently assaulting one of them, a court was told.

Philip Davies, 43, of Edmund Street, Darwen pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to permitting his premises to be used for smoking cannabis resin and also indecent assault.

He was jailed for 12 months, with a further seven days added for a bail offence.

Miss Julie Taylor, defending, said Davies had a long term alcohol problem and had befriended the youngsters whom he allowed to use his home as a safe house.

What started out as play fighting had got out of hand, she said, and the indecent assault must have been upsetting and embarrassing for the girl.

Davies had pleaded guilty and wished to apologise.

"He regrets his behaviour," counsel told the court. The court heard the indecent assault involving a girl under sixteen had occurred during a play fight.

Davies had deliberately tugged at the girl's trousers. Her underclothes had also been pulled down in the process.

An order was made barring the identification of the girl.