A FORMER Williton parish councillor was behind bars this week following his conviction for sex offences against a young girl.

Andrew Norris, 46, formerly of Watchet and now of Hamp Street, Bridgwater, denied sexual assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

But following a three-day trial, he was found guilty on both charges and remanded in custody for reports and sentencing at a later date.

A jury at Taunton Crown Court heard Norris had a high sex drive and had destroyed clothing which could have held forensic evidence against him.

The girl involved told the court she was scared and tried to black everything out following his assault. She was "really upset and crying", but felt she could not tell her mother because she did not know if she would be believed.

She mentioned it to a friend at school and her mother later had a phone call from a teacher. She took her to the police because she was very upset.

Norris said he was a painter and decorator before having an accident in 1985 and was also employed as a doorman.

He told the jury he had been married three times following a five-year relationship which started in 1979, and admitted having a high sex drive - "five or six times a day or even more".

He said he had not sexually abused the girl and denied burning potential evidence. He also denied touching the girl sexually.

He claimed she had made the whole thing up and that he had no idea what it was about when he was arrested.

David Chidgey, prosecuting, said the girl had been reluctant to tell people what happened. She told police Norris "has been doing some horrible things to me" and that he had told her not to tell anyone about it.

Patrick Mason, defending, said the girl spoke to friends at school, a teacher was told and that led to her being taken to the police station, where she was "sucked into the investigation".

It was experimental storytelling which got completely out of control, claimed Mr Mason.

He argued that there were inconsistencies in the girl's story and "good reasons" for her to make it up.

Norris was no angel but he had been consistent from the time of his arrest and the circumstances of the girl's allegations were "rather unlikely", he added.