A MAN must pay £200 compensation to a teenage girl whose bottom he squeezed while she was walking to school.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she felt disgusted and dirty after Le-An Kane squeezed her buttocks in the centre of Bishop Auckland on April 3.

Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard the girl was wearing her full school uniform and was on her way to school when she saw Kane, 28, of Evenwood Gate in Bishop Auckland, approaching her.

Prosecutor Lorraine Cooper said the girl passed Kane but then felt someone grab and squeeze her buttock.

Ms Cooper said the girl turned and saw Kane walk away, although he turned and looked back at her before he disappeared round a corner.

In a statement read to the court by Ms Cooper the girl said she felt “upset, disgusted and dirty”.

Ms Cooper said: “She was very angry about what happened and was terrified for herself and others that this male might do something similar, or worse, again.”

Kane previously admitted sexual assault and returned to the court for sentencing today (May 22).

In a report prepared by the probation service, it was suggested that Kane be made subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) banning him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.

Clive Booth representing Kane said the order would be totally disproportionate to the offence and said there was no evidence Kane was sexually attracted to young people.

Kane told police he had not been sexually attracted to the girl when he touched her.

Mr Booth said Kane had no explanation for why he squeezed the schoolgirl’s bottom but said he was unreservedly apologetic for it.

Magistrates agreed a SOPO was unnecessary but did give Kane a community order with supervision for 24 months and a five year notification requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to the girl, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.