A MAN has been jailed for committing a New Year's Eve sexual assault on a young girl in Kendal.

Andrew Harrickie, 42, was handed a 33-month prison term at Carlisle Crown Court today (FRI).

This followed his guilty plea to sexually assaulting a child aged under 13, by touching, on December 31, 2015.

The court heard Harrickie had pinned the seven-year-old girl on the ground before committing the crime.

His victim was described as being "upset" when she reported the matter several days later.

Judge Peter Hughes QC heard from Harrickie's lawyer that it had been a "fleeting" and "spontaneous" offence.

The judge was also told that "highly inappropriate" - but not illegal - naked images of children were later found by police on the defendant's laptop.

Harrickie, of Balmoral Road, Kensington, Liverpool, must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely. 

He will also be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.