A THIRTY year old man who had sex with a schoolgirl -- and then confessed to the police has kept his freedom.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Barry Crossley, who had been due to marry two months later, at first said he would jump in front of a bus when the 14 year old said she was going to tell her mother.

He then owned up to the mother, blamed himself and rang the police. Neither the complainant, who later thought she might be pregnant, nor her mother, wanted to report what happened to officers.

Giving the defendant a six month and one day jail term, suspended for two years, with a suspended sentence supervision order, Judge Raymond Bennett said he thought the probation service could help Crossley -- and he hoped the public would understand why he was taking such a course.

The judge said if ever there was case which was exceptional by the way a defendant had conducted himself after the offence, this was it.

He went on: "I hope any right minded thinking member of the public would hold the same view that the right way to deal with you is how I have done so."

Crossley, formerly of Parkinson Street, Burnley, earlier admitted unlawful sexual intercourse, in May. He is now on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years. Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said the defendant went to a Burnley park where the offence took place. The girl ran towards her home in the town, Crossley ran after her, she hid and he found her. The teenager said she was going to tell her mother and the defendant said if she did so, he would jump in front of a bus.

When the girl reached home, her mother noticed she looked upset. Crossley apologised to the girl's mother, told her he had had sex with her daughter and said he was an adult and should not have done it.

Mr Lamberty said the defendant rang police and confessed to what had happened. Neither the complainant's mother nor the girl herself wanted to make a complaint. Crossley told officers he started what went on, would regret it for the rest of his life, but found the girl attractive.

Anthony Cross, defending, said Crossley had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. If he had not owned up to what he had done, the matter would have been covered up by the complainant's family.

The defendant had a very low IQ, was of limited ability, could read, but could barely write. He had had a very difficult life, not brought on by himself and his background was tragic beyond belief.

He was now going to be labelled a sex offender, had had to move to another town and had very few family contacts.