Maidstone Crown Court, where Heath's case was heard

by Keith Hunt

A pervert who groomed a teenage girl for several weeks before having sex with her has been jailed for two years.

Karl Heath was 37 and the girl was 14 when he briefly had intercourse with her, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Now 38, Heath, of Freelands Road, Snodland, admitted two charges of sexual activity with a child.

Trevor Wright, prosecuting, said the victim later told police: “I felt weird. He is old enough to be my father. I thought it was my fault. Now it makes me want to be physically sick.”

There was a fairly short period of grooming of five to six weeks before Heath had full sex with the girl. Mr Wright said the teenager told Heath it was painful and he stopped.

One of the offences involved kissing and cuddling, which was sexual, he said, because it led on to intercourse.

"he is considered to be a vulnerable adult. he will find serving a prison sentence extremely difficult and harsh" – isobel mccarroll, defending heath

Heath, who has a teenage son, at first denied the allegations.

Isobel McCarroll, defending, said a psychological report showed Heath was in the lower nine per cent intellectually for people in his age band.

“He is less able to think through options and consider the consequences,” she said. “He has accepted his responsibility.

“He is considered to be a vulnerable adult. He will find serving a prison sentence extremely difficult and harsh.”

Miss McCarroll said programmes were available that would assist in Heath’s rehabilitation.

“It is my submission there are very exceptional circumstances for following the recommendation in the pre-sentence report

“A suspended sentence would allow him to complete a programme designed to assist a person with his very exceptional difficulties.

“I realise I am asking for a wholly exceptional course. The reason I am asking for it is the probation service has recommended it.”

Judge Philip Statman said it was an unusual case in that there was a large age gap between Heath and the girl.

“But this defendant has been married, he has raised children, he has been able to learn to ride a motorbike,” he said. “He has achieved interesting goals in his life.

“He knows there are things he is doing that are clearly wrong.”

Heath’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register.