A SHAMED Leigh magistrate who indecently assaulted a 14-year-old schoolgirl has been ordered to pay compensation to his victim.

Francis Walsh, 63, of Hollins Road, Hindley Green, was ordered to pay the teenager £1,000, and also fined £2,500 and told to meet the prosecution costs of £1,855.

Judge David Hale, sentencing the former Leigh JP and school governor at Warrington Crown Court on Friday, said although the offence had been at the lower end of the scale of indecent assaults the consequences for the girl, now 16, had been considerable.

He added: "To her it was serious. She has been very upset and affected by this."

The court had heard how Walsh drove the girl home from school one afternoon in April 1998 and stopped twice on Bickershaw Lane to try and kiss her and touch her thigh.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault, but was convicted by a jury after a four-day trial.

Family and friends gave evidence to say he was a caring and trustworthy man and Judge Hale agreed he had given a lifetime of service to the community.

Walsh will not be able to stand as a magistrate or governor and will have to sign on to the sex offenders' register for five years.