A FORMER councillor jailed for indecently assaulting a schoolgirl has been banned from again working again with children.

Former Easington District Councillor Harry Devine, 54, was handed the order yesterday by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

The order was made in addition to a jail term imposed earlier this year after the disgraced councillor was found guilty of molesting a girl under 12.

Devine had denied any wrongdoing, but was convicted by a jury of touching the youngster intimately after taking her to his home in Salter's Lane, Wingate, in the summer of 2002.

The sex offender was first elected in 1999 and re-elected in May 2003, weeks before the allegation against him came to light.

His seat was declared vacant by the council after he failed to attend any meetings for longer than the stipulated six-month period.