A MAN who had sex with a 13-year-old Rossendale girl he met through Facebook has today been locked up for three years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Arran Akhtar, now 19, knew the girl’s age. When he was later arrested, he told police nothing sexual had taken place.

Akhtar, of Milnrow Road, Rochdale, had admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register, banned from working with children for life and was given a 10-year sexual offences prevention order, restricting contact with children and computer use.

Louise Whaites, prosecuting, said the defendant was 18 at the time.

Last September, he sent the girl a message asking her ASL — age, sex and location.

She replied and they later started to text each other.

Akhtar was arrested after an investigation by the police Freedom Team, a specialist unit made up of police officers, social workers and staff from children’s charities established to tackle the sexual exploitation of young people in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Geoffrey Whelan, for Akhtar, said: “There would appear to have been a level of distorted thinking behind this offending.

“He accepts his behaviour regarding the girl was wrong.

“His assertion here is that there was consent for this behaviour.”

Det Con Nicola Corbett said: “Akhtar deliberately targeted and preyed on a vulnerable young girl by grooming and sexually exploiting her.

“The victim has shown tremendous courage in coming forward and giving evidence at court. “This type of predatory crime will not be tolerated and we will continue to target, warn and prosecute offenders to hit home the message that this type of behaviour is not just unacceptable.

“It is criminal, and we will pursue those people involved.”