yesterday charged with assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

Delvin Knight, 33, of Sandymount Lane, Paget admitted climbing into the girl's house during the night and gripping her neck with his hands.

The girl fought him off and tried to escape. But she found the door, previously unlocked, bolted shut.

Knight also pleaded guilty to charges of prowling and entering the dwelling house of the child's mother.

Police prosecutor Inspector Peter Duffy told the court the attack took place at 9:30 p.m. on November 18 while the girl's mother, who knew Knight, was out of the house.

The girl was lying on a sofa talking on the telephone when Knight entered the house through a window.

When she turned the television off, leaving the house in darkness, she was suddenly confronted by a figure coming toward her, Inspector Duffy said.

Knight grabbed her around the neck and tightened his grip in spite of the girl's screams.

After pulling free she ran toward the bedroom but found the door locked.

She finally escaped through another door to see her attacker emerge from the front of the house.

She summoned her landlord for help who contacted the Police.

In a Police statement Knight said he intended to play a joke on the girl who he knew through her mother.

Inspector Duffy said Knight admitted he went to the house uninvited to see the child's mother. He then decided to play a joke and picked up a cover from the bed to throw over the girl. He reached to cover her mouth but by mistake grabbed her neck.

He then ran out because his so-called joke backfired, Inspector Duffy said.

The girl sustained a scratch on her neck from the attack.

Yesterday, Knight who has no prior convictions, told the court he had been drinking excessively that night and had not meant to hurt the girl.

Senior Magistrate extended bail and adjourned the case for a social inquiry report to assess Knight's drinking problem.