A MAN who befriended and groomed a teenage girl for sex has been jailed for six years by a crown court judge.

Trevor Vincent was convicted on seven charges of underage sex, indecency with a child, sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, all between October 2003 and August 2004.

At the latest hearing into the case, Judge Adele Williams told Vincent, 50, of Marshalls Land, Tenterden, near Ashford, that he had shamelessly taken advantage of the girl’s vulnerabilities.

“You plied her with drink, presents and a mobile phone and engaged her in the sort of activities that teenagers find superficially attractive and even booked rooms in the Ashford International Hotel on two occasions where you entertained her.

“The whole course of conduct was quite disgraceful,” said Judge Williams.

At Vincent’s trial in September the jury heard how he met the girl when she was in her early teens and how they eventually had consensual sex.

She stayed at his Ashford flat where police found her sleeping naked on a mattress.

On one occasion when they visited the hotel, the pair had a row. The girl then told a group of building workers in the bar about the relationship.

Vincent said in evidence that it was never a sexual relationship but admitted writing her letters and cards, feeling love for her but not sexual love.

Kevin Sparks, for Vincent, said that at the time he met the girl he was drinking heavily and she was also going through a troubled phase.

“They seemed to click and the relationship started. He accepts it shouldn’t have done, he was an adult and should have done something about it.

“He says he is not someone who fixates on young children. As far as he is concerned this is a one-off and there is not going to be another occasion,” said Mr Sparks.

Vincent will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely and the court also made a sexual offences prevention order banning him from residing in any house where someone under 16 also lives and being able to take any work that directly involves children under the age of 16.