A man who asked a 13-year-old Keighley girl to pose for pictures to send over the Internet has gone scot-free.

Prosecutors refuse to take the man to court despite his admission - claiming he was "just having a bit of fun".

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has told the girl - six months after the alleged offences - that what took place is not enough in law to justify the offence charged.

The man, in his 50s, told the youngster that the more she showed, the more he would pay her. The family friend said he wanted to send the photographs over the Internet to Zimbabwe.

The CPS says that at no time was a specific arrangement made and no photographs were in fact taken. Because of this it was unlikely a jury could be sure that the man committed the acts alleged.

A photograph actually has to be taken before a criminal offence is committed under the Protection of Children Act 1978.

Prosecutors have also dropped charges that the man indecently assaulted and harassed the girl, and also harassed her 13-year-old cousin

The news was broken to the traumatised teenagers this week in letters from a senior CPS lawyer.

The girls' families are angry that the letters went directly to the girls rather than their parents.

One of the fathers says the letters were sent just one day before the man was due to appear in court.

He said: "The police thought they had a really good chance of conviction. They were in no doubt he would offend again.

"When it first went to the CPS they thought it was a good case. What more evidence do they need?

"Does he have to actually attack someone before they'll do anything? Surely it's better to nip it in the bud?"

The man had originally been charged with assaulting the 13-year-old in a sexual way and harassing her between last September and April.

In video statements the girl told how on one occasion he had taken hold of her by the hips and brushed past her.

The man was also charged with harassing the girl's cousin by giving her cigarettes and asking her to do unspecified things in return.

The man was taken to police by the girls' parents after one of the youngsters told her aunt what had happened.

In a letter to the girl, senior prosecutor Miss H Weir says the man denied the allegations of indecent assault and harassment.

She writes: "He asked if you were interested in modelling for him to take photographs to send over the Internet to Zimbabwe.

"You say he told you the more you showed, the more money you would get. At no time was a specific arrangement made and no photographs were taken.

"He agrees that he said those things to you but he says he was just having a bit of fun. What took place is not enough in law to make out the offence charged."

Miss Weir says the case was dropped because it was unlikely a jury could be sure the man committed the alleged acts.

She would have had to show the man intended his actions to be indecent, and that most people would say they were indecent.

Miss Weir had to follow guidance set out in the national Code for Crown Prosecutors, which aims to ensure decisions are fair and consistent.

In the letters Miss Weir says the girls may wish to show it to their parents and discuss it.

"I appreciate that you may be disappointed with the outcome of this case. However, I hope that this letter, together with the enclosed leaflet, helps to explain the reason for my decision."

The girl who was the main victim was offered a meeting with Miss Weir for a more detailed explanation, but Miss Weir stressed: "It will not be possible to alter the decision I have made."

A CPS spokesman said yesterday: "We carefully reviewed this case and came to a decision that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of obtaining a conviction.

"The victims were written to and given an explanation. The victim of the indecent assault was offered a meeting for a more detailed explanation if required."

Keighley police said they could not comment.

l The Keighley News is following its policy of not carrying any information which may lead to the identity of the victims.

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