A YOUNG man who admitted engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for 32 months.

Justin Webb, aged 18, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court after admitting four offences of sexual activity with a child.

He entered his pleas on the basis that the activity had been consensual, however the court heard his young victim had been left ‘devastated’.

Prosecutor Heather Shimmen said the offences took place in Bridport on September 14 last year.

She said Webb, of Middle Green, Beaminster, and the girl were there with other youths and they had gone into a bedroom at the property alone.

Miss Shimmen said they engaged in various sexual acts before having unprotected full sexual intercourse.

She said the victim was later seen leaving the room in tears.

Miss Shimmen added: “He knew she was 14 at the time of the offence.”

The girl’s parents later became aware of what had happened and reported the matter to police.

Webb was interviewed and initially said there had been no sexual contact at all but, when he was confronted by forensic evidence, he later said he was drunk and could not remember what had happened.

Miss Shimmen told the court the incident ‘had a devastating effect on the victim’.

Lee Christmas, defending, said his client’s best mitigation was his guilty plea, his young age and the narrow age gap between Webb and the victim.

As he imposed a 32-month jail term, Judge Roger Jarvis told the defendant: “Even though the difference in years is just over three years in maturity it is quite considerable.

“She was only 14 years of age, you well know a child of that age is not able to consent you what it is you did with her.”