A MAN accused of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl wrote to her and her mother urging them to drop the charges, a court heard.

Pierre Chappelle, 39, had been remanded to a bail hostel facing two counts of indecently assaulting the girl. Durham Crown Court heard that a condition of his bail was not to contact the alleged victim.

But he sent the letters urging the girl and her mother to write to the prosecution asking them to drop the charges.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, said thatone letter read: "Make it very tearful, do you know what I mean?"

He later told police the girl's mother had given him the impression they wanted the charges dropped and he was writing to confirm this, but he denied "pressuring" them.

After the letters came to light, he was remanded in custody, pending a trial.

Chappelle, formerly of Shildon, County Durham, but now of no fixed address, yesterday admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice and a new charge of assaulting the girl.

The indecent assault charges were left on file. Chappelle denied both these allegations.

Chris Baker, in mitigation, said: "He believed they genuinely wished to drop the charges.

Judge Richard Lowden imposed a 13-month sentence, but given Chappell's time in custody, he is expected to be released almost immediately.