A DRUNKARD said to have molested a little girl was almost caught in the act by her mother, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Aiden Kiely, 32, was found lying on top of the child, with his shorts around his ankles. The youngster's clothing was pulled up and the defendant told her mother: "I want her when she is older."

Kiely, who is alleged to have touched the girl intimately, was at first charged with attempted rape but insists he did not touch the girl. The defendant, then of Rossetti Avenue, Burnley, denies indecent assault in April.

Kate Blackwell, prosecuting, told the court Kiely was in a difficult relationship with his girlfriend and was not having sex. He made a conscious decision to act in a sexual way towards the alleged victim.

The prosecutor alleged Kiely was not too drunk to get the girl in a position where she was lying on her back. She suggested the defendant admitted to police what he had done but tried to explain his mind wasn't there because of self-induced intoxication.

Giving evidence, the defendant said although he had been drunk he knew he would not have touched the child.

He told the jury he had been "gobsmacked" and petrified to find himself in a police station facing a charge of attempted rape.

Kiely said he did not indecently assault the girl. He claimed he did not have any sexual interest in the alleged victim or any child.

The defendant said at the time of the alleged offence he drank regularly and usually got drunk.

Kiely said he was still having sex with his partner at the time of the alleged offence, but it did not happen as frequently.

He added the comment he was said to have made about wanting the child when she was older was nothing to do with sex. The defendant continued: "She's a kid with blue eyes and blonde hair and she is going to look lovely when she is older."

(proceeding)