A BANK manager who was due to be sentenced for assaulting a teenage girl with intent to commit a sexual assault has had his case adjourned because he is in hospital.

Cocaine-user Paul Burns, of Valley Mill, Park Road, Elland, admitted during his trial that he had picked up prostitutes from Huddersfield’s red-light area, but he was found not guilty in relation to a series of allegations involving two of them.

But after a trial last month Burns was found guilty of attacking the teenager and a physical assault on a third prostitute.

After the jury returned their verdicts Judge Peter Benson decided that it was appropriate to grant Burns conditional bail pending his sentence.

The 31-year-old had spent the last six months in custody following his arrest and charge in February.

Judge Peter Benson, sitting at Bradford Crown Court, was told this morning that Burns had been admitted to hospital on Thursday night as an emergency and had been due to have surgery in two or three weeks time.

During his trial, Burns claimed he was making a pass at the 18-year-old girl after he saw her walking alone near his Elland home in the early hours of the morning.

But the teenager said Burns tried to take her down a lane and she bit his hand when he put his hand out to stifle her screams.

Although Judge Benson agreed to grant Burns bail he stressed at the time that he could still be jailed for the offences.

The judge described the incident with the teenager as “a very unpleasant offence” which had caused her massive distress.

Burns, who was cleared on other charges of false imprisonment, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and assault with intent to commit rape, could also be served with a sexual offences prevention order when he comes back to the crown court next month.

Burns, who has worked at various bank branches across West Yorkshire, was said to have been earning £38,000 plus bonuses at the time of his arrest.

Judge Benson agreed to adjourn Burns’ sentence hearing to October 16.