A FATHER-OF-TWO who is said to have "groomed" a schoolgirl for sexual contact may be facing jail for suggesting she commit a sex act on him.

Derek Kearney, 32, was found guilty of incitement to commit gross indecency by a Burnley Crown Court jury, after a four-day trial.

The defendant, of Gainsborough Avenue, Burnley, was cleared of an allegation of indecent assault. He was bailed until September 19 for a pre-sentence report by Judge David Pirie, who told him he may go to prison. The prosecution had alleged Kearney talked dirty to the 12-year-old girl, fondled her and made obscene jokes.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said Kearney told the victim -- now a teenager -- he would give her five cigarettes if she would perform a sex act on him and said on another occasion he would give her 10 cigarettes if she did it.

The defendant drove the girl to local beauty spot, Crown Point near Burnley, and asked her what she thought she was there for. When the girl said she thought it was for a cigarette, Kearney told her to think again. He was later said to have lifted the girl on to a kitchen unit and fondled her.

When interviewed by police, Kearney denied anything untoward had gone on, but said he had taken part in a poor taste joke, although it was only a joke. He denied he had touched the complainant indecently.

Giving evidence, Kearney said all the girl's allegations were untrue, although he had taken part in a joke. He said the alleged Crown Point incident and the fondling claim were made up and said the girl had made the claims about his behaviour to her friend and then felt she had to carry on with them.