A 40-YEAR-old man who got a schoolgirl on her own and twice molested her has started a six-month jail term.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the 15-year-old victim of David Tattersall was very upset by what happened and a judge told him he had to go to prison.

Judge David Pirie told the defendant: "This wasn't just a case of momentary temptation. You created the opportunity to be alone with her."

Tattersall, of Hallam Road, Nelson, was convicted by a jury of two counts of indecent assault. The judge ordered an extended licence period of 12 months and the defendant will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

Russell Davies, defending, said Tattersall knew the court would have no sympathy at all for his having run a trial and maintaining his plea of not guilty throughout.

Tattersall's relationship with his partner had now ended, he was in the process of getting divorced, he had outstanding debts to the tune of about £20,000 and there seemed no option but to declare himself bankrupt.

Mr Davies said he conceded the offences passed the custody threshold. The defendant now admitted the offences and was put in a position to address the medium risk of offending he had been assessed at.

Tattersall had lost everything, but that was his own fault. The most precious thing he had lost was his good character. Mr Davies said there was no suggestion that drink had been used deliberately in the offences or that there had been any form of grooming or targeting of the complainant. The incident was an opportunity which arose and which the defendant unfortunately took advantage of. He did not persist in his conduct.

He went on: "A sentence of custody must follow. A short term is going to have precisely the same impact on the defendant as a longer one would. At lease now he admits he needs help."