A MAN who sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl during a church service in a marquee in Birkenhead Park was jailed on Thursday for three months.

Anthony Maloney, aged 34, of Livingstone Gardens, Birkenhead, had been found guilty by a jury of indecent assault.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the assault happened after Maloney went into the marquee with the girl and another man during an open 'tent crusade' organised by members of Wirral Christian Centre last June.

The girl sat between the two men on chairs at the back of the tent and their somewhat rowdy behaviour attracted the attention of those immediately around them, said Mr Christopher Stables, prosecuting.

Maloney was seen to touch the child on her thigh, have his hand inside her blouse and 'French kiss' her, he said.

The court heard that as a result of the incident, Maloney had been attacked and hospitalised and since the trial his partner has been attacked and lost her front teeth.

They have received threats of further attacks and told that their home will be fire-bombed and so they will have to move, said Mr Thomas Eaton, defending.

Judge David Clarke, QC, told Maloney, "You were convicted of behaving in a totally unacceptable manner towards that girl on that day in a way she would not understand.

"The offence of indecent assault covers a wide range of different types of behaviour and I would not wish anyone to believe this was one of the more serious types of indecent assault.

"It was not, but it was quite unacceptable for you to kiss this child in the manner that was described. I believe you did it because of an unaccustomed amount of drink taken that day.

"You are not a habitual sex offender or anything of the sort," he said.

Maloney and his partner were in tears during the hearing. During the trial Maloney said he gave the girl a peck on the lips because she was upset, but denied he had touched her indecently.

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