A COMMUNITY campaigner whose son died in the 1981 New Cross fire has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl.

George Francis, chairman of the New Cross Fire Parents' Committee for 25 years, was found guilty of three charges of sexual assault by a jury at Croydon Crown Court on June 30.

But the 77-year-old could be facing a re-trial on a further two charges on which the jury could not agree.

The Crown Prosecution Service is due to report to Judge Kenneth Macrae on Friday with a decision.

Francis was arrested at his home in Kent House Road, Sydenham, on September 30 last year.

It followed allegations made by an 11-year-old girl, now aged 12, saying Francis had tried to kiss her on numerous occasions and touched her.

Jurors acquitted Francis on two charges of assaulting a second schoolgirl who claimed he tried to kiss her.

He denied all the allegations, claiming one girl demanded £50 from him or she would say bad things about him.

Francis' son Gerry, 17, was one of 14 youngsters who died in a house fire in New Cross Road on January 18, 1981.