A 24-YEAR-OLD man is facing jail after stripping naked and sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl.

Ralph Stokes cried in the dock after a Burnley Crown Court jury convicted him and Judge Barbara Watson remanded him in custody.

The defendant was found guilty of sexual assault on a girl under 13 and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, last July 13.

Stokes, formerly of Elm Close, Barnoldswick, but now of Henry Street, Nelson, had denied the charges.

It was said that after the incident he admitted being ashamed and said he needed help.

Judge Watson adjourned the hearing until January 26 for a psychological assessment and pre-sentence reports.

Stokes was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register and the court was told the prosecution would be applying for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The jury had heard the defendant had also got the child to undress before performing a sex act on her.

He had then encouraged her to perform one on him.

He was earlier said to have exposed himself to the little girl.

Martine Snowden, prosec-uting, said afterwards both the defendant and the victim got dressed and Stokes gave her some loose change.

The seven-year-old told police Stokes had given her the cash for committing the sex act.

Stokes told the girl she must not tell his girlfriend what had happened but she did and the woman confronted the defendant and asked if it was true.

He claimed nothing untoward had gone on but accepted both he and the girl had taken their clothes off. Stokes claimed he had got undressed and the girl had copied him.

He claimed nothing sexual had gone on whatsoever and alleged he had exposed himself by accident.

Miss Snowden said Stokes told police he had got undressed in a room upstairs and had not expected the child to go in.

He claimed she somehow took her shorts off, she instigated contact and it was just her "childlike curiosity."