A PAEDOPHILE who indecently assaulted a young girl as she watched a cycle race during the Commonwealth Games has been jailed for four years.

Volunteer youth worker Paul Williamson approached the 10-year-old girl and her brother, aged 11, as they watched the event in Horwich last year. He befriended the girl, who was a total stranger, hugged her and then sat her on his knee while he indecently assaulted her. The girl said she felt disgusted by Williamson's actions and ran off in tears. Williamson was later arrested and charged by police. Bolton Crown Court heard that Williamson had two previous indecency convictions.

One of the convictions was when he was 17 and a second in 1965. Williamson, aged 54, of Beech Avenue, Kearsley, could also be subject to recall to prison under a life sentence he received 34 years ago.

He was convicted of arson with intent to endanger life in 1969 and released on licence in 1977.

Judge Lindsey Kushner QC rejected a community sentence and said that Williamson was a danger to children in general and young girls in particular.

She told him: "You have admitted the offence, and, unlike many who come before the courts, you have been frank about your problem and I accept your remorse.

"However, you are going to remain a danger to all children in general, and young girls in particular, for a long time, and I feel a term of imprisonment is unavoidable.

"You will serve an extended sentence of 10 years, of which four years will be spent in jail.

"Once you are released, your period of licence, where you will be monitored and given support, will extend from 10 years from today.

"It will be necessary for the authorities to keep tabs on you once you are released from prison in order to protect the public."

Judge Kushner QC said that, under a restraining order, Williamson would not be allowed to live in a house where there were young children.

She also imposed a disqualifying order on Williamson which banned him from ever working with young children.

He was also banned from spending leisure time with young children unless there were supervising adults and he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Williamson, admitted indecently assaulting a 10-year-old girl.