A 24-YEAR-OLD man who had sex with a girl under 16 has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ashley Jackson, of Jubilee Road, Sandwich, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court after admitting three charges of sexual activity with a child.

The court heard that Jackson had a previous conviction for indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl.

For that offence he was jailed for 30 months, put on the sex offenders’ register for life and banned from working with children.

But his solicitor, Andrew Espley, said the new offences, which involved a teenager, were different as the sex had been consensual.

“There was no suggestion of any corruption by the defendant and he was not taking advantage of a vulnerable youngster,” Mr Espley said.

But Judge Anthony Webb said the law was there to persuade men not to commit such offences with under-age girls.

He said the seriousness of the offences meant Jackson had to be given a prison sentence. But he suspended it so Jackson could attend a sex offenders’ programme, which he would not be able to do in jail.

Jackson was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to attend the Thames Valley sex offenders’ treatment programme and a programme to help with aggression.

Jackson was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order.

Mr Espley said Jackson regretted his behaviour and realised it had been stupid and wrong. “He now has a 41-year-old girlfriend,” added Mr Espley.