A MIDDLE-aged landlord molested his tenant after turning up at the house she rented from him in Rossendale.

Father-of-three James ‘Danny’ McHale, 55, attacked the 22-year-old woman in January last year.

A month later, he is alleged to have gone back, apologised for his behaviour and then sexually assaulted her again.

McHale, a self-employed carpenter who lives in Bamford, told police he was ‘shell shocked’ by the woman’s accusations and claimed nothing happened.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault against the woman, on January 28 and February 28 last year.

He had no previous criminal convictions.

But yesterday he was convicted of two counts of sexual assault.

He will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court next month.

Giving evidence, McHale, who said he had let out the house for about 20 years, told the hearing he had let the woman have the house at a reduced rate because it was better than it being empty and getting no rent.

His tenant moved in and there was a problem with the drains which he went to assess.

Questioned by his counsel, Rowena Goode, McHale said he went back on January 28 to do some jobs, as he was working in the area.

He said he and the woman made polite conversation.

McHale said as he was leaving, he brushed past the woman in the kitchen and apologised.

He claimed he did not touch the woman nor suggest they went upstairs.

The defendant told the court he went to the house on the evening of February 28, as he had been working across the road and he went to see if everything was okay with the jobs.

He claimed he did not apologise for any alleged previous behaviour and did not touch the woman’s leg.