A 15-YEAR-OLD stalker committed a series of sex offences after preying on lone females in Burnley town centre.

The Burnley teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, struck four times in one week but was traced after being caught on CCTV.

Today, town centre manager Lisa Durkin welcomed his capture and said it was a triumph for the work being done to make the town a safer place for everyone.

The teenager pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent exposure and one of indecent assault when he appeared before magistrates at Reedley Youth Court yesterday.

Elizabeth Read, prosecuting, said: "There is a quite serious stalking element to these offences.

"Vulnerable women in the town centre during the hours of darkness have been targeted. He kept observation for lone females to prey on."

The first victim was an Asda worker on her way home on Saturday, January 3. She was on St James's Street when the defendant, who had been hiding at the top of the steps in the market square as she walked through, ran past her, stood in front of her and performed a sex act on himself.

Mrs Read said: "She shouted at him to go away - she was very distressed and frightened."

After the offence was reported, police investigators were able to take samples from the scene to get a DNA profile.

The court heard that two days later he struck twice on the same night.

First he indecently assaulted a 34-year-old woman by approaching her from behind and putting his hands on her breasts as she walked through the market square towards Boots.

Then 10 minutes later he stood in the doorway of a shop in Curzon Street, exposed his private parts and again performed a sex act on himself before running away.

Magistrates heard that three days later, on Thursday, January 8, he performed a sex act in the doorway of the same shop.

He was arrested by police at his home on Wednesday, January 21.

Mark Irlam, defending, said: "To his credit when he was arrested he fully co-operated with the police."

The defendant will be sentenced by Burnley magistrates on Thursday, February 19.

Speaking after the hearing, Lisa Durkin said: "This is another example of good practices, such as CCTV, working effectively to get rid of anti-social behaviour such as this."