A MAN could be facing a prison sentence after he admitted sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

Salim Mulla, 41, of Ripon Street, Queen's Park, Blackburn, appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday charged with four offences, all relating to incidents which took place in June last year.

He pleaded guilty to two charges -- sexual assault of a child under 13 years old, and causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Mulla will be sentenced next month, and was warned by Judge Byrne that all sentencing options are open to him, including jail.

The other two charges -- abducting a child under 13 years old and attempting to rape a child under 13 years old -- are expected to be left to lie on file following Mulla's sentencing next month.

Police today welcomed Mulla's guilty plea, which meant his victim would not have to give evidence.

Detective Inspector Ian Critchley of Blackburn police said: "We are pleased with the plea entered and that the victim particularly will not have to give evidence in this case." Mulla was charged in June last year after a 12-year-old girl claimed to have been abducted and assaulted.

At the time police said she had been walking with a friend in the William Street area of Blackburn when she was stopped and asked for directions.

She told officers she got in the car to help, but was assaulted in an alley between Hall Street and Vale Street before escaping. A three-week trial was originally planned to start yesterday, but was not necessary following Mulla's guilty plea.

Yesterday Mulla was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

When he is sentenced, on February 27, he will also be told how long his name will appear on the register.

He was released on bail until the sentencing, with the conditions that he should live at his home in Ripon Street.

He must not contact prosecution witnesses in the case and was ordered to co-operate with the Crown Prosecution Service in the preparation of a pre-sentence report being prepared for the judge.