A GLOVED knifeman who sexually assaulted a little girl is behind bars for three years.

Michael Cooper, 43, who inflicted three injuries on his victim, who lives in the Nelson area, had warned her he would slit her throat if she told her mother what he had done, Burnley Crown Court earlier heard.

Sentencing Cooper, Judge David Pirie, said the assault was aggravated by the fact he had a knife.

Cooper, then of Southfield Square, Nelson, had been convicted of indecent assault after an earlier trial. He had denied the allegation.

Anthony Cross, defending, said Cooper, who was on 'Rule 43' in custody, was exceptionally depressed and likely to harm himself.

The jury had earlier been told Cooper had worn gloves during the assault and had a knife 'like a sword,' only smaller.

The victim hid her underwear, so her mother did not find them for a couple of days. The child later complained of being sore and said she had fallen off her bike.

The mother took the youngster to their doctor and he sent her to hospital, where medics said it was not likely her injuries were due to falling off a bike.

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