Baby's DNA catches sex offender

The court heard how Smith seduced the girl

Cardiff Crown Court has been told how a sex offender was caught after his 12-year-old victim had a baby and a DNA test proved he was the father.

Security guard Gordon Smith, 35, was jailed for three years for having sex with the schoolgirl.

Prosecutor Charles Cooke said Smith befriended the girl while working on a building site near her home.

"On a visit to her home her mother fell asleep on the settee in front of the television.

'Genuinely remorseful'

"He took the girl into the kitchen where he assaulted her. She became pregnant and when the baby was born, DNA-testing proved beyond a shadow of doubt that he was the father."

He was arrested and charged earlier this year but denied having sex with the girl.

The court heard he later admitted it after the DNA test on the baby.

Peter Murphy, defending, said: "He accepts he is going to prison. The girl developed a crush on him and he took advantage of that.

"Smith bitterly regrets what happened and is genuinely remorseful."

'Exploited the situation'

Smith, of Newport, pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13.

He denied rape and the charge was ordered to lie on the file.

Judge Michael Burr said: "You knew just how old she was.

"You exploited the situation for your own gratification and the consequences are that this child herself had a baby."

Smith was jailed for three years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.