A MAN has been sacked from his job as Accrington Stanley's matchday mascot after admitting sexual activity with a child.

Alan Smith, 50, of Carter Street, Accrington, was suspended by the club from his role as Stan the Monkey after being charged with a series of sex offences earlier this year

He was due to stand trial on the allegations at Burnley Crown Court yesterday but admitted a single charge of sexual activity with a teenage girl under 16, said to have taken place in February.

Smith was remanded in custody and was due to be sentenced today.

Formal not guilty verdicts were returned on charges of two further charges of sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act and a child abduction charge.

One further charge of sexual activity with a child was ordered to lie on the file.

None of the allegations related to Smith's work as club mascot.

Today a spokesman for Accrington Stanley said: "Safe to say we won't be using Mr Smith again, in fact we are very disappointed the club has been dragged into all this.

"Since we suspended Mr Smith we haven't had a mascot at games, but we are going to be launching a brand new mascot in the next few weeks."

Smith has been in prison since he was charged and will be placed on the sex offenders' register.

The Stan the Monkey mascot made its first appearance at the Conference club's game against Scarborough in August 2003 and was named after fans posted ideas on the club's website.

Smith is said to have volunteered for the job of being the mascot and had been doing it for a few months before his suspension.