A PRISON officer who was convicted of feeling a junior colleague's breast broke down in tears as he avoided being sent to jail.

Trevor Wright was suspended and later sacked after touching the woman's chest over her clothes.

The 48-year-old married man, of Henry Close, Blackburn, had denied a sexual assault, but a majority guilty verdict was returned.

He was acquitted of a second charge in relation to the same woman.

Three women had complained about him, but the jury could not reach verdicts on seven other charges.

Preston Crown Court heard that Wright had failed to respond to warnings from colleagues at a North West jail.

He was ordered to carry out unpaid community work.

But judge Pamela Badley told him: "You demeaned her by your behaviour.

"As a work colleague she was entitled to respect from you.

"You failed to respond to warnings by those who were kind and who had approa-ched you, in order to help your dealing with other people.

"They felt you were acting inappropriately. You also acted as a person in a senior position.

She hesitated before she took the matter further because she knew within the hierarchal structure of the organisation, that it would be difficult for her. "

The defendant, a man of previous good character, denied the allegation.

His barrister, Miss Lisa Roberts, said: "He continues to deny any involvement in the offence and I dare say, will continue to do so."

A number of people had given character evidence at the trial, including prison officers who had worked alongside him for several years.

Miss Roberts added: "He was held in high regard for nigh on 20 years. He joined the prison service in the late 80s.

"To say that this matter has had a profound and devastating effect upon him and his family is something of an understatement.

Wright was told he will have to carry out 200 hours unpaid work on a community order and to pay his victim £500.

He will also have to pay £200 defence costs and will be on the sex offenders list for five years.

The seven charges, upon which a jury had been unable to reach verdicts, were ordered to lie on the file.