A KIRKBY man has been jailed for a year for having sex with an under-aged girl he met on Facebook.
The 15-year-old went missing overnight after school and had sex with him in a tent in Coxmoor woods, Nottingham Crown Court was told.
The judge said there had to be an immediate prison term so people knew that the law protecting young girls had to be observed.
Matthew White (24), a warehouse worker, of Ashwood Avenue, admitted two charges of sexual activity with a child.
He had no previous convictions.
The girl’s mother reported her missing to the police when she did not return home, said Gareth Gimson, prosecuting.
The girl said three of White’s friends were there. She took some drugs to ‘fit in’ but became light-headed.
White’s advocate Digby Johnson said his client had been in a relationship with a 19-year-old but that ended after she went on holiday to Ibiza with friends. He was then introduced to drugs.
He felt shame and guilty.
Judge Michael Stokes, the Recorder of Nottingham, said: “We live in a society apparently obsessed with sex. Anyone trying to bring up a daughter is very alive to the fact young girls are under tremendous pressure to engage in sexual activity when they are under-age.
“The law is there to protect them not just from predators but from themselves.”
The 15-year-old, like many her age, had undoubtedly exaggerated her knowledge to appear ‘cool.’ She now felt dreadful and bitterly regretted what she did.
White had targeted the girl for his sexual gratification and he took advantage of her.
He will also be on the sex offenders’ register for five years.
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