A SEX offender who may be suffering cancer has had a possible jail term postponed to allow him to attend a medical appointment.

James Gleave, 64, formerly of Fern Street, Colne, sexually assaulted six children - five boys and a girl - and made a pact with them that they wouldn't tell anybody what happened.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Gleave, who is believed to have prostate cancer, watched sex videos with the youngsters and asked the girl to swear on her life that she would keep what he had done a secret.

Gleave, who had spina bifida, as well as heart and stroke problems, admitted 14 counts of indecent assault. Judge Raymond Bennett, who ordered the defendant's current address in Rossendale not to be revealed, adjourned sentence for two months to allow time for medical tests.

The judge, who said he could not be satisfied Gleave would receive the tests in prison, remanded him on bail. He told the defendant, formerly of Fern Street, Colne, that he shouldn't imply "for one moment" that there wouldn't be a custodial sentence. David Pickup, prosecuting, said the victims, aged between seven and 13, were shown pornography by Gleave, either on video or a "sex channel," on TV. He exposed himself on occasions and touched the children indecently. The offences, committed between July 1997 and July 1998 came to light after another child was found to be upset and said something to do with the defendant. Gleave had been "playing doctors" with the children and made a pact with them that they would not tell anybody what had gone on. Gleave asked the girl to swear on her life to keep secret what he had done, or he would get into trouble with police.

Patrick Cosgrove, QC, defending, said Gleave, who had no previous convictions for anything whatsoever, accepted the responsibility was entirely his and he didn't want to blame anybody else.

There was no indication of any previous "paedophile behaviour" in the past and Gleave had not sought to place himself near young children, by baby-sitting or voluntary work. When the defendant had pleaded guilty he had been under great pressure, as his wife had said if he pleaded guilty, his son, to whom Gleave was devoted, would never speak to him again.

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