A 46 years old man was jailed and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' register for having unlawful sex with a 14 year-old girl.

Jailing Robert Russell for 18 months a judge told him the courts had a duty to protect young girls from the attentions of middle-aged men.

Russell had got to know the teenager and her friends over several months and bought them cigarettes and alcohol.

He indecently assaulted the 14 year-old girl and later had sex with her and told her that if she didn't keep coming to see him he would tell her mother she drank and smoked.

When Russell, formerly of Hindley, appeared at Bolton Crown Court to be sentenced for indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse, prosecutor Maisie Burke said Russell knew the girl's mother and sometimes used to babysit for her. He got to know the teenager and gave her sweets, cigarettes and beer. She used to visit him at home where he indecently assaulted her.

Then one day, when she was visiting him with some friends, he went upstairs followed by the girl. She said he forced her onto the bed and had sex with her. The girl kept on returning because Russell threatened to tell her mother she had been smoking and drinking.

Russell became jealous of the girl's 17 year-old boyfriend and at one stage sent her a letter saying he would punch his lights out.

When arrested and interviewed Russell told police the sex had been consensual but he knew he was too old and she was too young.

Defending, Alaric Bassano said Russell admitted much of what had happened but disagreed with some parts. His guilty pleas had spared the girl from giving evidence.

Judge John Roberts said that Russell had, as an adult, been in a position of trust and there were elements of 'grooming' the child for sex.