A sex offender who abused a 12-year-old girl he was babysitting has been jailed for four years.

Peter Cox, of Brambling Way, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, admitted sexually assaulting the child at her home on two occasions between June 2005 and April 2006. Police refused the Oxford Mail's request for a photograph of the man.

Jonathan Coode, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court that allegations first came to light in June last year, when the girl told her mother Cox had touched her and a friend and had behaved in an inappropriate manner. On one occasion, she said, he sexually assaulted her while her friend was present.

The court heard Cox denied the assaults when interviewed by police, but later pleaded guilty to one count of assault of a child under 13 and another of sexual assault of a child under 13.

Cameron Brown, defending Cox, a 47-year-old lorry driver with no previous convictions, said: "He wouldn't consider himself a highly academically qualified man. It may have taken some time for the penny to drop as to how wrong his behaviour was. But he is not in denial and has now acknowledged that it was wrong."

He added that Cox had been drinking at the time.

Jailing Cox for four years, Judge Hall told the court that drinking was no excuse. He added: "He hasn't a clue about how adults should behave with teenage girls."

Oxford police commander Brendan O'Dowda said the decision to withhold a picture of Cox was designed to protect the safety of innocent individuals.

"I have to weigh up the public benefit of releasing someone's photograph with the implications for other people connected to Cox and the case," he said.

"I believe there is a significant risk of intimidation, damage and injury to other people."