Andrew Bull, 25, of Bowland Road, Heysham, met the girl's mother at a wedding.

They exchanged mobile phone numbers and in July last year Bull went to the house for a few drinks with the woman and her friend.

Preston Crown Court heard they were drinking cider as the toddler slept on the sofa in her vest and nappy.

The woman and her friend went to the kitchen and returned to find Bull touching her thigh.

They threw him out of the house and called police, but Bull said the women were drunk and were lying.

He later admitted sexually assaulting the girl. Mr David Macro, defending, said Bull was a 'very limited man' who experienced an unfortunate upbringing.

Recorder of Preston Judge Anthony Russell QC handed Bull a 36-week prison sentence suspended for two years, and put him under two years' supervision.

Bull was also banned from having unsupervised contact with children for five years and put on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Afterwards, Det Cons Ciara Campbell praised the bravery of the young girl in helping to secure the conviction.