Man jailed for underage sex

A Black Country man, who had sex with a 13-year-old girl after meeting her on the internet, has been jailed for 12 months.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard on Monday, Stephen Jones was more than twice her age when he befriended the girl, who had emotional problems.

The girl's mother warned other parents not to allow their children unsupervised access to the internet because of its dangers.

Jones, 27, of Mount Road, Coseley, admitted unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl, who is from the Dudley area, on 30 December last year.

You had sexual intercourse with a child who was mixed up, having emotional problems and problems at home

Judge Michael Mott

Judge Michael Mott told Jones: "What you did was reprehensible and very wrong.

"You had sexual intercourse with a child who was mixed up, having emotional problems and problems at home."

Sarah Crabb, prosecuting, said Jones, who is a machine operator, exchanged e-mails with the girl for nine months.

She told the court Jones invited the girl to his house, took her up to his bedroom and chatted to her.

Still crying

He then went into the bathroom and returned in just his boxer shorts. They then had sex.

After the case, the girl's mother criticised the jail sentence for being too lenient.

"The internet is very dangerous," she said.

"There are a lot of perverts out there."

She said her daughter was traumatised by what had happened and still woke up in the night crying.

Judge Mott ordered a not guilty verdict on an alternative charge of rape.