A man who phoned police demanding to know why his picture was published in the newspapers as part of an appeal will tomorrow be sentenced for sexually assaulting a girl on a bus.

Edwin Luke left the girl traumatised following the terrifying assault last August.

He was only caught following a police appeal in January of this year.

Following the appeal, he called police demanding to know why his picture had been in the papers and he was subsequently arrested.

Bolton Crown Court heard today he approached the teenager and asked her about cannabis.

He grabbed her inner thigh and tried to kiss her.

She managed to flee downstairs on the bus.

As he passed her the 27-year-old said “Why are you crying, it's not a big issue?”

An image was released of the defendant in January following which Luke called police.

Katy Laverty, prosecuting, summarised a victim impact statement from the girl.

She said: “She was seriously affected by the incident.

“She is extremely terrified to get on a bus and she always sits next to the driver.

“When she thinks of it, it makes her feel sad and teary.

“She says ‘I think what if I see him, I would not know what to do.I feel it will affect my having a relationship.’

“She has been having counselling, which has been helping.”

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Luke, from Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever, Bolton, appeared in court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

The court heard a probation service report said he was a high-risk who could not be worked with in the community.

But Anna Bond argued that he could be spared imprisonment.

She said: “It would be remarkable that a defendant with no previous convictions who is 27 who is before the court with a plethora of issues cannot be given the chance to be helped in the community.”

She said his issues were with drugs, alcohol and poor mental health.

Recorder Geoffrey Lowe opted to deliberate overnight on the sentence he would impose.

He remanded Luke in custody ahead of sentence tomorrow morning.