A YOUNG man has been given a 12-month sentence by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court for a sex assault on a 15-year-old girl.

But Mohammed Jalloh, now 19, is already due for release after spending six months in custody since his arrest.

Jalloh, from Sierra Leone, was originally charged with rape but was cleared by members of the jury who found him guilty of indecent assault and the case was adjourned for reports.

When he re-appeared for sentencing his lawyer, Michael Lewis, submitted that leading up to the incident there had been some encouragement by the girl whom he believed to be 18.

But as she was only 15, she would not legally have been able to consent to any sexual activity, even if she wanted to.

Meanwhile, Jalloh's appeal against the Government's refusal to let him stay in this country was still being considered.

During his time in custody the equivalent of a one-year sentence he had found life very difficult and was still suffering from the effects of a broken jaw resulting from an incident at the prison.

During his recent trial the jury heard that Jalloh and some other young men were living in a house in Fox Street, Gillingham, when the complainant and some friends went to the house.

The young people were listening to music, talking and dancing, and some drinking was going on. Prosecutor Robin Johnson said the incident happened when the girl went to Jalloh's bedroom to change the music. He followed her and pushed her on to the bed. She claimed he had sex with her.

In evidence, she denied flirting with some of the boys at the house. She did not remember sitting next to Jalloh, known as John, on the sofa and touching his groin area.

Jalloh, who denied both charges, said the girl told him she was 18. Sentencing him, Judge Michael Neligan said he took into account the question of consent.