A FORMER councillor branded "a danger to young girls" was last night behind bars after being convicted of a sex attack.

Harry Devine was found guilty by a jury at Durham Crown Court on the seventh day of his retrial on an indecent assault charge relating to a girl aged ten or 11.

The jury returned a unanimous verdict after deliberating for two hours.

Devine, who represented himself during the retrial, was led down to the cells after his request for bail was refused.

Judge Richard Lowden adjourned sentencing for three weeks, pending the preparation of reports by the Probation Service.

After Devine was taken to the cells, Judge Lowden told the jury: "At the moment it seems to me that custody is inevitable."

The verdict followed three trials and 22 days in court, plus another scheduled trial that failed to open because of Devine's ill-health.

Devine, 54, of Salter's Lane, Wingate, east Durham, was an Independent member of Easington District Council for his home village.

He was first elected in 1999 and was re-elected in May 2003, weeks before the first allegation came to light.

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

Devine, who was arrested in June 2003, was initially accused of inciting two girls, aged 11 and 12, to commit an act of gross indecency.

He was also accused of indecently assaulting one of the girls, while helping to remove wet clothing on their return from an outing to Scarborough, where the girl had fallen into Peasholm Park lake.

A jury at the original trial cleared him of both incitement charges but failed to reach a verdict on the indecent assault allegation.

Awaiting a retrial, Devine was arrested in Bridlington, on the North Yorkshire coast.

He was accused of approaching a 12-year-old girl and allegedly offering her £10 for sex.

Weeks later he allegedly comforted and spoke several times to a tearful 14-year-old girl in the Cumbrian market town of Kirkby Lonsdale.

A complaint was made and he was spoken to by police, but the girl's mother did not want her to appear at court so no charges were brought.

Police found the date rape drug Rohypnol in Devine's car and at his home, but he said it was legally prescribed several years earlier for a bad back.

In January, Devine went on trial for indecent assault of the girl in the Bridlington incident. He was cleared by a jury on the judge's directions.

He was granted conditional bail to return for the retrial on the initial indecent assault allegation, which resulted in his conviction yesterday.

Speaking after the verdict, the girl's mother said: "I've rung her to tell her and we're highly delighted.

"She's over the moon. She was at school, but she was screeching when I told her.

"I'm just glad a jury has finally seen him for what he is.

"I'm glad he's locked up. I don't know what sentence he'll get, but the verdict alone is good enough for me."

The woman said her daughter, now 14, has had counselling.

Detective constables Steve Hedley and Neil Robinson, who investigated the case, were also delighted at the outcome.

Det Con Hedley said: "It's been a long two years, where we've had to go through all this court procedure.

"I'm relieved that eventually the girl has been believed above this man, despite all his words.

"It shows how strong she has been to go through three trials."

Devine, a divorcee with a daughter and grandson, will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on April 5.