A TEENAGER who molested a 12-year-old girl after he and his brother bombarded her with messages on Facebook, has been jailed for 20 months.

Haa-miiim Khan, now 18, had groomed the victim, emotionally blackmailing her and enticing her to meet him.

He kissed her and then later sexually attacked her behind a Haslingden church. His older brother Kobirul Khan, now 20 and engaged to be married, had started the contact with the schoolgirl, but never went any further than the internet.

Both brothers had inundated the child with vulgar and explicit messages, wanting sex, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The pair were caught out after the girl's auntie saw the messages on her computer, told her mother and police were called.

When questioned, both brothers told police they had known the girl's age.

Haa-miiim Khan, a voluntary worker and at the time 17, admitted assault by penetration. He had no previous convictions.

Both brothers, of Elm Street, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity, last September, and were placed on the sex offenders' register - Haa-miiim Khan for 10 years and his brother for five years.

Each was also given a sexual offences prevention order - Haa-miiim for five years and his co-defendant for three years.

They are banned from approaching or communicating with any female known or believed to be under 16, except immediate family and must not contact the victim. Kobirul Khan received a two year community order, with 12 months supervision and 200 hours unpaid work.

Martine Snowden, prosecuting, said the 12-year-old first came into contact with Kobirul Khan, told him her age, at first he said she was too young for him and then told her it didn't matter.

He sent her 'very many' messages, repeatedly inviting her to his empty house for sex and asking her to send sexy pictures. She told him they could meet and just talk, but he told her he wasn't interested.

Miss Snowden said Haa-miiim Khan also sent the girl a lot of messages and met her twice, when they kissed.

On the third occasion, he committed a sex act on her behind St James's Church and she pushed him away.

The hearing was told the victim was said to have been 'given a hard time' by her family and friends over what happened.

Mohammed Nawaz, for Haa-miiim Khan, said: "There was no coercion on his part. This was clearly two-way traffic. However, he does understand that the law is structured to sometimes protect young people from themselves."

Mr Nawaz said the contact with the girl was over two to three weeks.

The defendant wanted to be a sports coach so the loss of his good character had been a massive blow.

The barrister added: "This was out of character and he is a good young man in many other respects."

Defending Kobirul Khan, Ahmed Nadim said he was 'profoundly ashamed' of his behaviour and his family and community disapproved of what he had done.

Khan was hoping to marry at the end of the year. Mr Nadim added: "He's a very different person from the man who committed this offence."

The barrister added: "His cards have been marked, his good name has been destroyed and he is going to be monitored for an appreciable period of time."

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told Haa-miiim Khan she had to punish him and deter others.

She continued: "You knew perfectly well it was not only morally wrong, it was lawfully wrong, but you didn't care."