A YOUNG mother told of her horror as she found a man allegedly exposing himself and 'messing' with her baby.

The woman said she was shocked, grabbed the 18-month-old little girl and started crying after she discovered Shaun Ruddeforth holding the infant in the kitchen of her home.

She told Burnley Crown Court how she ordered Ruddeforth out of the property.

Ruddeforth, 20, of Parkinson Street, Burnley, denies indeceny with a child, said to have taken place on March 2.

Keith Thomas, prosecuting, told the jury that when the defendant was later arrested and interviewed by the police, he denied doing anything improper with the child.

He admitted his trouser zip had been down but claimed it had been broken. He said he had not been exposing himself.

The tot's mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her daughter, said Ruddeforth called at the Burnley home she shared with her family.

He was with a friend and had a couple of bottles of White Lightning cider. She was preparing the child's tea, the defendant said he would do it and went into the kitchen.

Questioned by Mr Thomas, the mother claimed she then walked into the kitchen and saw Ruddeforth 'messing' with her little girl.

The mother said: "I asked him what he was doing. He replied 'nothing' and moved away quickly."

She said she saw Ruddeforth exposing himself. She took hold of the little girl, ordered him out of her house and he ran from the property.

She added: "I was worked up and crying. I was shocked more than anything."

She alleged one of the tags on the child's nappy was loose and looked as if it had been tampered with.

Cross-examined by Paul Hague, defending, the mother agreed the child's nappy had not been removed.

Mr Hague said the defendant's trouser zip had been open and the mother had "put two and two together," and thought the worst.