Ashfield man on curfew after "fantasy" relationship with schoolgirl

Ricky Wollington, 20, kept in touch with her even though he had been given a "child abduction warning," a court heard.

When police investigated in Mansfield last month, they uncovered exchanges of text messages between the two.

The girl responded and one was an apology for "being dishonest about her age," said Lucy Jones, prosecuting, at Nottingham Crown Court.

In some replies, Wollington called himself "Daddy" and she raid she had been "a very naughty girl."

She also referred to a "fifty shades" attitude and he spoke of the need to punish her, added Miss Jones.

A two-year probation order was imposed on Wollington of Pearl Avenue, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. He must obey a curfew for three months and was put on the sex offenders register for five years.

He admitted a charge of engaging in sexual communication with a girl and was warned that he could have been sent into custody.

But Judge James Sampson told him: "I am not going to send you to jail for what appears to be some sort of fantasy. You are still very young."

The judge said that a probation report, compiled for the hearing, offered "very sensible proposals" and he accepted the recommendation made in it.

As part of the probation order, Wollington must attend a programme to improve his thinking on the subject.

Errol Ballentyne, mitigating, said that Wollington has the support of relatives who attended court with him. He had also been to his local police station to sign the register.