A MIDDLE-AGED man who molested a little girl has been jailed for 15 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard Thomas Fegan, 53, fondled the child three times but told her he would carry on doing it when she asked him to stop.

Fegan was told by Judge Raymond Bennett it was sad to see somebody his age in the dock for a "most unpleasant offence."

He added not many people had the guts to own up but he had and it spared the victim having to face a traumatic ordeal.

Fegan, of Hilary Street, Burnley, had earlier admitted indecent assault. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

John 0'Shea, prosecuting, told Burnley Crown Court the offence took place between January and June 2000.

Mr 0'Shea said after the victim was interviewed, police went to the defendant's house and arrested him.

When questioned, he denied the little girl's accusations and was asked for an explanation why she would say such things.

Fegan said she must have been dreaming or fantasising.

Anthony Cross, defending, urged the court to give Fegan credit for his guilty plea. He said the defendant, who was effectively of good character, had been in custody since January, which had been an extremely traumatic two and a half months.

He had been on the Sex Offenders' Wing and his sister had recently died of a heart attack. So he had already been punished.

Mr Cross added the harm Fegan had caused the girl would probably be with her for the rest of her life.

He said that because there was only one offence, if custody had to follow it should not be for any great length of time.