TWO married men who jointly carried out a sex assault on a 15-year-old girl have been jailed for two months.

Paul Grocock, aged 33, and Andrew Brearley, aged 37, took it in turns to restrain the schoolgirl before groping her at a house in Bury.

The men, both fathers-of-two, later apologised claiming they had simply been "larking around".

At Minshull Street Crown Court, in Manchester, yesterday, Grocock, of Wood Street, Bury, and Brearley, of Scholes Street, Bury, pleaded guilty to indecent assault. They must sign the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

Earlier, prosecutor Mr Philip Cattan told how the incident occurred in November, 2001.

On the night in question, the 15-year-old girl was at home playing on the computer with a friend when the defendants knocked at the door.

It was 10.30pm and her mother was at a pub quiz but, as she knew the defendants, she had no fears about letting them in.

Mr Cattan said: "She was then subjected to an unpleasant and indecent experience."

The victim's brother then returned home and the girl told him she wanted the two men out of the house.

Grocock told the brother he was sorry then, later, realising he had gone too far, tried to ring the girl's mother.

Both men told police they didn't assault the girl, claiming they had been "larking around" and tickling her.

Excerpts from the teenager's witness impact statement were read out in which she said: "The whole incident has had a traumatic effect on me.

"I have been on anti-depressants, my schoolwork has been affected and I have been missing lessons."

In mitigation, defence counsel, Mr Justin Hayhoe, said both men deeply regretted their behaviour.

Passing sentence, Judge John Burke QC, said: "Your victim was not a sexual plaything. She is entitled to live her life with dignity."