An Army cadet has been sentenced to two years youth custody for molesting a young girl he groomed on social media.

Brandon Lucas sent the shocked victim pictures and videos of him self-harming when she refused to forward him selfies of her naked.

He also told her he had stabbed himself in the leg and would only remove the knife if she told him she loved him.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Lucas, 19, groomed and manipulated the girl on Facebook and Snapchat.

He was a 16-year-old colour sergeant with Kent Army Cadet Force, based at Mascalls School in Paddock Wood, when he first contacted the girl, then aged 12.

He called her “babe” and “sexy” and complimented her on her bottom, telling her: “It’s mine.” He said she should not tell anyone because of her age.

After they met he twice put his hand into her knickers and pinned her down in an attempt to take off her trousers.

The girl was to tell police she was distraught and distressed by his behaviour. She has since been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

She wept as she gave evidence from behind screens.

Lucas, formerly of Montgomery Road, Tunbridge Wells, now of Five Oak Green, denied two charges of sexual assault and one of attempted sexual assault, but was convicted by a jury.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said although Lucas may have been sexually naive and inexperienced and of exemplary character, custody could not be avoided.

“You were going through a difficult time and you realised you could get a reaction by exposing your frailties, and that turned into a device to try and secure a relationship with her,” he said.

“This was a course of conduct you pursued and there was a disturbing escalation.

"Lucas used social media and messaging apps to repeatedly contact his young victim with inappropriate suggestions and demands" - DC Dave Preston

Ben Irwin, defending, said an immediate custodial sentence would destroy Lucas’ ambition of joining the Royal Signals Army regiment.

“He is not a predatory sexual offender but a young person who made crucial, serious mistakes,” he added.

Lucas was convicted in September last year and sentence was adjourned for psychiatric reports.

He was said to have used his own emotional problems as a device to groom and manipulate his victim.

Ben Irwin, defending, said of a pre-sentence report stating Lucas was still in denial: "He is not a defendant saying woe is me, but who has insight into his action, even if his action was having an inappropriate degree of contact and an inappropriate relationship with a girl younger than him.

"When they met they were both children. He was a teenager all the time he knew her, the offences being committed when he was 17 and 18."

A detailed psychiatric report had been prepared for the sentencing hearing.

Mr Irwin spoke of Lucas' troubled upbringing. He was said to have been bullied at school. Mr Irwin added he was "still troubled".

He said an “enormous stigma” would now be attached to Lucas.

Urging the court to impose a suspended sentence, he added: "He must clearly take steps to deal with his life and deal with his future, but this is a person who plainly wanted to join the Army and had dreams of his career following on from the cadets.

“That has clearly ended and he has lost his job following the disgrace of all this."

The judge told Lucas: "You are a man of good character and have not only good character but exemplary character.

“It is also right that one of the mitigating factors is in relation to mental disorder or learning difficulties when linked to causation of the offence.

"But I also note that you still do not accept your guilt in relation to these matters."

Lucas’ name will appear on the sex offenders’ register and a sexual harm prevention order was made.

After sentencing, Detective Constable Dave Preston said: "Lucas used social media and messaging apps to repeatedly contact his young victim with inappropriate suggestions and demands.

"He then sexually assaulted the child on more than one occasion, clearly causing great distress and upset. Furthermore by refusing to admit to these crimes Lucas then forced the victim to endure a court trial.

"Thankfully the victim and her family have showed tremendous courage in helping us build a successful case and I hope this sentence will at least provide them some comfort."