A LANCASTER man allowed young children to drink Alcopops and smoke cannabis at his flat, a court heard.

Peter Williamson regularly encouraged youngsters to visit him and one night allowed two 13-year-old girls to stay over.

The girls told their parents they were staying at each others' homes before spending the night in Williamson's flat.

Williamson, 31, of Adelphi Street, Bowerham, Lancaster, pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to charges of abducting children under the age of 16. Judge Herbert Andrew QC, placed him on probation for three years and ordered him to undertake 100 hours community service.

The judge told Williamson that his behaviour in allowing the girls to stay had been "totally unacceptable and foolish." But he accepted that there had been no sexual contact with the girls.

Janet Ironfield, prosecuting, told the court that one of the girls had met the defendant at an amusements arcade in Lancaster. She was playing a game where teddy bears were won as prizes, and Williamson offered to buy them off her, explaining he was setting up a market stall selling cuddly toys.

Over the next few months, the girl and her friend visited Williamson's flat in Shards Court, Mainway, Skerton, Lancaster.

In February this year, he asked the two girls if they wanted to stay the night. They told their parents they were staying at each other's homes overnight before going to Williamson's flat. Miss Ironfield said: "There they played cards and the defendant brought out half a dozen bottles of blackcurrant Hooch.

"He rolled a joint of cannabis and suggested one of the girls inhale. She did so."

Patrick Thompson, defending, said there had been no sexual motive behind Williamson's conduct and he had never acted in a sexual improper way towards the girls.

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