A teenage paedophile said to have told his victim that "age was just a number" before abusing him faces jail.

Harvey Doughty was just 18 when he sent a series of explicit texts to a young boy in the lead up to him performing a sex act.

The victim later told police he felt he had no choice but to give in to pressure and was left feeling "disgusting".

He also told Maidstone Crown Court that Doughty became "forceful" and ignored his plea to stop.

It was alleged at trial by the prosecution that Doughty "took advantage" of his victim, who had initially "submitted rather than consented" to the sexual act, and then made his objection "clear" as it was being performed.

But Doughty, now 21, denied rape and was found not guilty by a jury last Thursday.

He had, however, admitted offences of sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity in relation to the same incident. He now awaits sentence.

Prosecutor Martin Yale told jurors that in early 2022 Doughty and the young boy had exchanged a number of texts.

Doughty, of Knott Court, Maidstone, initially asked if he could tell him "a secret" before revealing he thought he was bisexual.

The messages soon became explicit, with Doughty making remarks about what he would do to the youngster and suggesting they had sex.

At first, the victim questioned the seriousness of what was being said to him, said Mr Yale, and repeatedly told Doughty how old he was.

But Doughty simply replied "No one has to know" and continued to "reassure" him when the boy asked what would happen if someone found out, added the prosecutor.

Further messages then led to the victim "giving in", it was alleged at trial.

In a video recorded interview with police played in court, the victim described how he initially took Doughty's messages about wanting sex "quite lightly" and thought the "age being a number" comment was "a joke".

But he said that having given "various excuses", he felt he "had no choice" but to perform the sex act.

"I didn't want to and thought I made that clear but he just carried on (messaging)," the boy told police.

"I eventually agreed because I didn't feel I had a choice. It won't be the end of the world, it's not that bad - that's what I was saying."

The boy also claimed that when Doughty became forceful during the sex act, he told him to stop, only for his abuser to carry on and tell him "it wasn't that bad and to deal with it".

"It was painful. I felt disgusting, I didn't want to be doing it. It was gross," the victim added.

He was later described as being "extremely upset" when he confided in family and friends that he had thought he had been raped and gave in to pressure.

Doughty was arrested and gave a 'no comment' interview.

Although he was subsequently acquitted of the more serious charge of rape, the court was told that by reason of his guilty pleas to the two sexual activity offences, there was "no doubt" that he had "encouraged it and taken part in it".

Referring to sentencing guidelines and the maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment, Mr Yale said the prosecution maintained it was in the highest category based on harm and culpability, with a starting point of five years in jail and a range of four to 10 years.

Doughty was released on bail until his sentencing hearing on July 12.

But he was told by the judge, Recorder Matthew McDonagh, that notwithstanding the jury's not guilty verdict, he "needed to understand" the seriousness of the charges he had admitted.

Adjourning for a probation service report to assess sentencing options and any potential danger posed to the public, he told Doughty: "I hope it's of no surprise to you that the matters you have pleaded guilty to can attract substantial sentences."