A North Yorkshire man has been cleared of raping a 14-year-old girl after he pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

But Paul Christopher Holt, 33, will still be put on the sex offenders' register after he admitted having unlawful sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old and indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

At the beginning of the second day of Holt's trial at Sheffield Crown Court, the five charges he faced were put to him again.

Holt, from Dixon Court, Selby, denied raping the 14-year-old, but pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with her and admitted sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, as well as supplying cannabis to the two girls.

Julian Goose, prosecuting, said he was happy to accept the pleas and would not pursue the rape charges any further.

Holt's case was adjourned until February 23 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Updated: 08:32 Friday, January 26, 2001