Man jailed for sex with girl

But Judge Michael Stokes, the Recorder of Nottingham, at Nottingham Crown Court said the girl’s father had complained to the police, who had given the defendant a warning which he had then defied.

The man, who can not be named for legal reasons, admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child and four counts of taking and possessing indecent photos of the girl.

Last July the police seized his computer and mobile phone, said Dawn Pritchard, prosecuting

The court heard that when he was later arrested he said: “You are joking”.

The judge was shown video footage of the girl performing a sexual act on him. Other indecent images were found by the police.

But the judge said he was prepared to proceed on the basis that the photos and video were part of ‘modern’ behaviour

Thousands of text messages were found, many of them of a sexual nature.

The court was told how the girl’s father remained angry but her mother had not wanted to lose her daughter, now aged 16, and was more supportive.

The defendant had no previous convictions, only two cautions for unrelated matters.

His barrister Richard Thatcher said he was not a ‘sexual predator’ and there was no evidence of grooming.

He appealed that any custodial sentence could be suspended.

Sentencing the defendant, Judge Stokes said any father would be concerned in the circumstances.

And he reiterated that he had been warned by the police.

“This was calculated defiance of the law on your part,” the judge told him.

“The law is there to protect young girls from their own inclinations.”

The sentence handed down was six months, of which up to half will be served in prison.