Man caught in bed with 14-year-old ‘didn’t know girl was underage’

But a forensic analysis of Scott Marsh’s mobile phone revealed a series of text conversations between the 22-year-old and the youngster, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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Marsh answered the door to officers in his boxer shorts, on the night of his arrest, and the girl was found coming out of his bedroom upstairs, according to prosecutors.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said the girl insisted she had told Marsh on a number of occasions that she was 14. He insisted he didn’t know her real age.

Initially the pair had been in contact with each other via Facebook and the relationship had developed, exchanging text messages.

He had engaged her in a conversation about 50 Shades of Grey but she dismissed it as ‘all about sex’, the court heard.

Later Marsh broached the subject of sex with the girl and the pair discussed using a condom, the court heard.

Miss Kehoe said the girl, when interviewed by police about the night of Marsh’s arrest, told officers that they had kissed and he had taken her hand and guided towards his groin. But she had resisted him and pulled it away, before going to sleep.

But Marsh insisted, when spoken to by police, that it had been the other way around, the court was told.

Marsh, of Belgrave Street, admitted offences of sexual touching and sexual grooming, between March and June this year. He was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also given a five-year sexual offences prevention order and told he must sign the sex offenders register.

Interviewed further by police, Marsh accepted he had kissed the girl but denied there was any sexual attraction to her.

Another text between the pair had Marsh telling the girl that he knew she was younger than him but he believed there was a ‘special connection’ between them.

The couple had met twice before their final liaison, which had been arranged after she had a day out in Burnley with friends.