A MAN who indecently assaulted a youngster who "screamed for her friend" in Macclesfield Leisure Centre has been convicted of abducting and raping a six-year-old girl.

Peter Voisey, 35, of Blyth in the north east, was found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of kidnap, rape and indecent assault last week following a three-week trial after which jurors cried whilst giving their verdict.

The case against the van driver was strengthened when "bad character" evidence, including his 2001 Macclesfield crime, was allowed before the jury to demonstrate his "propensity" for committing a particular type of crime.

Judge David Hodson, addressing the defendant, said: "You must expect to receive a sentence either of life imprisonment or an indeterminate sentence for public protection."

The predatory paedophile struck last December when he grabbed a young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as she played with her toys alone in the bath. Her mother and her mother's partner were only yards away in other rooms.

After covering her mouth with his gloved hand Voisey bundled her into a car and drove her away before he sexually assaulting her twice during the 20-minute journey and then dumping her in a freezing cold alleyway.

The brazen attack has chilling echoes of an equally horrific indecent assault that Voisey inflicted on a girl in the swimming pool changing rooms on Priory Lane five years ago.

The former mechanic entered the leisure centre and watched two girls wash their hair in the showers, grabbed one, told her to be quiet, then molested her.

His victim, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, told police: "It was not very nice because I didn't even know him. He was much older than me and I was scared. I kept screaming for my friend."

It was only because he was caught on CCTV camera that he confessed and was jailed for three years at Chester Crown Court in October 2001 - the sentence was later reduced to two years by an appeal judge due to Voisey's "genuine remorse".

The Newcastle victim's mother, speaking after the trial, said: "It's every mother's nightmare to think our children aren't safe in their home. You wouldn't think you would have to lock all your doors this early in the evening to protect your children from anyone entering your home uninvited."

Now Voisey has been convicted, the family are preparing for the next ordeal, the first Christmas since the attack.

The victim's mother added: "It was the worst time of year possible for this to happen. I'm just praying that every other Christmas isn't tainted for her."