A 72-YEAR-OLD man who attempted to kiss a 15-year-old girl in Enniskillen has been banned from having any contact with children, unless with prior approval, for the next five years.

Robert Stanley Hicks, of Elliott Place, Enniskillen, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and inciting a child under the age of 16 to engage in a sexual activity on June 9, 2014.

At Dungannon Crown Court on Friday, His Honour Judge Paul Ramsey QC imposed a two-year probation order on the defendant, with the added requirement to attend a drug or alcohol counselling programme.

The judge also placed Hicks on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Meanwhile, the defendant has also been made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for the next five years.

Under the terms of this order, the pensioner is banned from having any contact, directly or indirectly, with his victim.

He is further banned from having any contact or communication with any child under 17-years-old, unless with the prior approval of his Designated Risk Manager and Social Services.

The defendant is also barred from residing or staying overnight at any place without prior approval.

Prosecuting counsel, Simon Reid, outlined the facts in the case at an earlier hearing at Dungannon Crown Court, which took place two weeks ago.

Mr Reid told the earlier hearing that, at around 9am on June 9, 2014, the defendant had left a shop on Rossorry Church Road in Enniskillen and approached the injured party on the footpath.

The teenager had been about to cross the road when Hicks began to talk to her. She walked away, but he continued to speak to her.

The defendant observed that she “must be 16 or over”.

After the girl replied that she was 15, Hicks said: “That’s okay.”

He then told the teenager she was “pretty” and asked her for a kiss, but she said: “No.” When the defendant went to kiss her, the girl pulled her head away. He then touched her arm before she walked away.

The prosecutor told the court that the victim informed police that Hicks had either been slurring his words or spoke with a lisp.

CCTV footage from the shop on Rossorry Church Road was examined by the PSNI and the defendant was subsequently arrested.

Outlining his previous criminal record, Mr Reid told the court that Hicks had been convicted of unlawful carnal knowledge with a female under 17 in 1972 and of indecently assaulting a female in 2009.

Defending counsel, Stephen Mooney, told the court that, while his client was not a first time offender, there were “large periods of time” when he did not come to the attention of authorities.

The barrister said that Hicks had a “significant alcohol problem” that was a common denominator in his offending and argued that his behaviour was more pest than predatory.

In mitigation, Mr Mooney said that a medical report had outlined the defendant’s various ailments and illnesses.

He added that Hicks had a “stable and supportive” family and seemed to have put this behaviour behind him in the last two years.

Urging the judge not to send the defendant to prison, Mr Mooney argued that the combination of his alcohol problem and ill behaviour could be dealt with by way of a lengthy Probation Order.

After listening to the submissions from both defence and prosecution, His Honour Judge Paul Ramsey QC observed that he would adjourn sentencing in the case so as to allow him to consult the various reports that had been prepared.