A HASLINGDEN man threatened self-harm when his under-age lover broke off their relationship, a court heard.

But Gary Brooks, then 22, was an “immature” individual with a personality disorder, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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Defence counsel Robert Elias said Brooks accepted that he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with the 14-year-old.

But his initial Facebook contact with her had indicated that she was a teacher at the school which she actually attended as a pupil, he added.

Brooks, now 24, formerly of Highfield Court, Haslingden, but now of Tong Lane, Bacup, admitted engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Prosecutor Emma Kehoe said the relationship came to light when police discovered a series of sexual text messages between the pair.

The court heard the girl began a Facebook conversation with Brooks and their relationship grew from there.

He told her she looked “beautiful” and the girl, who had been having difficulties at home, began a sexual relationship with Brooks shortly afterwards.

She ended the affair before Christmas 2013 but later received a text from the older man saying he had taken an overdose.

The court heard Brooks was the first to approach police, after a disagreement with the girl’s mother. He insisted he thought the girl was aged 18. A series of sexualised text messages were found on his phone to the girl.

Brooks was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with two years probation supervision. He must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and was given a sexual harm prevention order, restricting his access to children under 16.

Passing sentence, Judge Jonathan Gibson said: “The girl was of course only 14 and you were substantially older than she was, although you do have your own limitations, which I have read about in your pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.”