A man who was due to be sentenced for child sex offences has died from lung cancer.

Kenneth Robertson, 72, was expected to appear at Burnley Crown Court on Wednesday having been charged with engaging in sexual communications with a child and distributing indecent images of a child.

The offences took place in Haslingden between March 2018 and March 2020 whereby Robertson made contact with a girl under the age of 16 and exchanged indecent images with her.

Robertson, of West View, Haslingden, also distributed 32 indecent photographs of category C of a child within the same time period.

Prosecuting, Rachel Woods said that she wouldn’t be opening the case against Robertson as he had died on March 13 of lung cancer.

Judge Heather Lloyd said: “I was due to sentence the defendant at this court today but he is not present.

“I have seen a certified copy of his death certificate saying he died on March 13, primarily as a result of lung cancer.

“I therefore declare now the matters to be closed unless the court otherwise orders.”