A DRUNKEN man who indecently assaulted a schoolgirl, attacked her friend after she tried to intervene and then sank his teeth into a police officer trying to arrest him.

James Roberts, 55, of Townley Avenue, Huncoat, admitted indecent assault, common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for 10 months by Burnley magistrates.

The court heard how the distressed sex assault victim ran to a local pub for help, where the landlady alerted police who had to force their way into James Roberts' home. A violent struggle then took place. Roberts, a former aircraft maintenance fitter, was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting, said Roberts had seemed to be watching the victim and tried to sit close to her. He then began to fondle her over her clothing.

She told him to stop and Roberts then became aggressive towards her friend, who had witnessed the incident. He gripped the friend by the collar, leaving marks on her neck and the victim ran away, leaving her friend behind.

She arrived at a nearby pub in a distressed state and the landlady called the police who went to the defendant's home.

Mr Grout-Smith said police had to break in and the defendant was extremely aggressive and bit PC Glen Smith on the arm, breaking the skin.

David Bentley, defending, said Roberts denied setting the scene for the indecent assault to take place. It was a deliberate but fleeting touch of the child over her clothing but the defendant acknowledged his behaviour was entirely unacceptable. He said Roberts was an alcoholic and that drink had severely clouded his judgement but that he had recently been "dry" after being remanded in custody.

Mr Bentley said most of the defendant's problems started when his wife left him six years ago and he had been left to care for their four children. He had since led a lonely and isolated life, showed little care for his family and let himself go. Roberts had not been able to look after himself or anybody else.

The barrister added Roberts, who suffered from illnesses including rheumatoid arthritis and spondilosis, had now had his first taste of custody which had a salutary effect upon him.