AN estate agent who sexually molested a teenage girl at his office has been ordered to carry out 150 hours community punishment.

The Home Company boss Simon Edwards was also ordered to pay £1,000 prosecution costs and £6,000 defence costs within the next four months. He also has to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Edwards, who has offices in Tyldesley and Walkden, was convicted of two offences of indecently assaulting the 15-year-old girl after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, during which he denied both offences.

The court heard that the offences took place on February 22 at Edwards' estate agency in Elliott Street, Tyldesley.

Sentencing Edwards, of Partington Street, Worsley, Judge Nigel Gilmour, QC, said, "These were unpleasant offences which caused great distress to the victim. You abused the position you held and were an older and more sophisticated person. You chanced your arm but she wasn't having anything of it."

He told Edwards that he was a hard working businessman and he did not think it necessary to impose a custodial sentence.

Mark Smith, defending, said that Edwards, who has no previous convictions, maintained his innocence.