A FATHER-of-two who exposed himself to a little girl and asked her to touch him, has avoided jail.

Burnley Crown Court heard Jess Dean, 45, had told the child not to tell anybody what happened because he would be branded a pervert.

Dean, whose stepson is severely disabled, was told by a judge he had been of "glowing good character." Normally people who had done what he did would go to prison, as the public expected it.

Judge Raymond Bennett said the victim had had to go through the trauma of giving evidence, which was something she would remember for the rest of her days and it might affect the way she felt about trusting people, particularly men.

But, he added, the case was exceptional because of the many testimonials he had read on Dean's behalf, the defendant had never been in trouble before and the offence was a one-off unlikely to be repeated.

Dean, of Westcliffe Drive, Earby, was given a two-year community rehabilitation order and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for five years, after being convicted of gross indecency.

The judge told him he must not accept employment or voluntary work which would cause him to be with children under 18.

He was also banned from living with children under 18, other than his own, without the agreement of his supervising officer.

Kevin Donnelly, prosecuting, said last August, the complainant walked into a room as the defendant was exposing himself. He apologised to her and covered himself up when he realsied she was there.

Shortly afterwards, Dean exposed himself again and invited the girl to touch him but she refused. He then pulled up his trousers and walked away.

Jeff Samuels, defending, said Dean still denied the offence, but had to live with the verdict of the jury.