A SEMI-NAKED sex pest who repeatedly targeted a frightened teenage girl and her mother in their home has been spared jail.

Lonely bachelor Geoffrey Sconce, 54, knew what time the girl would be in her bedroom and exposed himself to her several times a week between last June and September. Sconce, who lost his last job because he was exposing himself to passing schoolgirls, committed sex acts in the girl's direction, sometimes half undressed in his back yard, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The defendant was later arrested and claimed to be dumbfounded when the victims' allegations were put to him. He later owned up and admitted he needed help.

Sconce was given a three year community order to attend the sex offenders' programme, after Judge Barbara Watson said it was in the public interest he recognised he needed assistance.

The judge told the defendant: "If you were to have proper guidance and support I am quite sure it would reduce the risk of your offending in this way." Sconce, of Briercliffe Road, Burnley, admitted six counts of exposure. He was also put on the Sex Offender's Register for five years.

Hugh Barton, prosecuting, told the court the teenager would go into her mother's bedroom every day between 3 and 5pm to put on her make-up for work. The defendant would stand in a window naked, expose himself and deliberately commit a sex act in her direction.

The victim complained to her brother and her mother and when her mother went to investigate, Sconce did the same thing in front of her.

Mr Barton said the women hoped the defendant would simply stop if they ignored him but he persisted.

On several occasions he was seen semi naked in his back yard committing a sex act towards the girl. When Sconce was arrested, he alleged the women had made their claims out of malice. Alan Wilson, defending, said Sconce knew what time the girl was likely to be in the bedroom.

Sconce had not had a physical relationship since 1971 and was very lonely.

Mr Wilson said Sconce, who had previously sought help for his conduct, felt angry with himself for not being able to control the situation and was unable to stop until it was brought to the attention of the authorities.

The barrister went on: "He has sought previous help.

"Clearly he is someone who feels as though he needs assistance.

"That's clearly being offered and proposed by the probation service."