sexually assaulting the daughter of his live-in girlfriend.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith told the court how the man, a skilled labourer, fondled the victim three times between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1997.

The man lived with the victim's mother and their own child in a house across the street from the mother's parents, where the victim lived.

Ms Smith told Senior Magistrate Archie Warner the children referred to the man as "daddy'' and the family accepted him as a father figure, putting him in a position of trust.

The victim ran to her mother crying after one of the incidents but did not tell the mother anything.

The victim later confided in her grandparents who told her mother.

The mother confronted her boyfriend, the offender, and took him to Somerset Police Station where he admitted to the offence under caution and said: "I need help.'' The man has previous convictions of rape and breaking and entering with intent to rape.

He asked on Wednesday if he could get a lawyer before Mr. Warner sentenced him.

Mr. Warner told the man: "We are going to deal with you fairly and give you time to get a lawyer.

"You are entitled to a full and fair hearing but you are not entitled to wasting the court's time.'' Mr. Warner remanded the man in custody and gave him a week to get a lawyer before sentencing.