A CONVICTED sex offender who indecently touched two six-year-old girls while they were playing in a West Yorkshire street has been locked up indefinitely.

The youngsters, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, tried to ride away on their scooters when they were approached in Rastrick by Andrew Love.

But the 23-year-old ran after them and sexually assaulted the girls before fleeing the scene.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Love, of Westgate, Elland, had previously been locked up in 2003 for a sex assault on a 17-year-old girl and was on the sex offender register when he molested the two girls last September.

After reading reports on Love Judge Jonathan Rose concluded that he posed a significant danger to young females and jailed him for indefinitely for public protection.

Although Love will have to serve a minimum of two years, Judge Rose stressed that he would only be released when it was considered he no longer posed a risk to the public.

Prosecutor Ewan McLachlan told the court that Love was said to have put his hand up the girls’ skirts and his belt, which was undone at the time, was later found discarded in the area.

Love’s DNA was found on the belt by police, but when he was questioned about the incident the following month he said he had no recollection of it.

Love claimed to have been under the influence of drink or drugs at the time, but he later pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual assault.

Judge Rose described the circumstances of the attack as “extremely worrying” and concluded that Love had gone to the area after targeting the girls for some kind of sexual contact.

“It is perfectly obvious to this court what you were about and what you would have done had these children not escaped from you”, added Judge Rose.

“Neither child sustained any physical harm but each of them was absolutely terrified by what you did to them.

“The potential for long-lasting and serious psychological harm to them is perfectly obvious were children of such tender years are stopped in the street and molested by a man such as you.”

The judge said the latest incident represented an escalation in Love’s offending which caused great concern.

Love will now be on the sex offender register for life and he will also be the subject of a sexual offences prevention order should he be released from custody.