A LANCASTER man convicted of indecency towards a six-year-old boy has been placed on three years probation.

Paul Kerr was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years when he appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court.

The 39-year-old, of Newsham Road, had been found guilty on a jury's majority verdict of indecency toward a child.

His trial followed an incident in September of last year where Kerr was said to have been masturbating when the boy came in to a room where he was.

It was alleged that he then invited the boy to commit an indecent act which the child refused.

Kerr denied the claim and stated that the boy had come into the room accidentally.

Mr Roger Hedgeland, defending, said the circumstances of the case, as presented to the jury, meant it could be dealt with as an isolated incident.

No touching had been involved between the parties the court was told.

"At its highest it was an offence of demonstration, an invasion of the boy's physical privacy."

Kerr, who was married with a family, was said to have already suffered shame as a result of the proceedings.

Judge Edward Slinger said he could draw back from imposing a prison sentence.

He told Kerr: "The court will not send you to prison. A prison sentence would be over in a short time.

"I take the view that the interests of the public would be better served by placing you on probation, with strict conditions."

One of the conditions is that he should not have any contact with under 18-year-olds, except with the prior approval of his supervising probation officer.