A MAN aged 29 who had sex with a 13-year-old girl and indecently assaulted her and a 14-year-old has gone to jail.

Illiterate John Bainbridge's Accrington home was a 'haven' for truants and runaways, who were allowed to stay the night. The 13-year-old feared she might be pregnant and the 14-year-old felt disgusted by what he had done, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sentencing him to six months, Judge Raymond Bennett said Bainbridge had come from a much more difficult background than many people had to experience and it was perhaps more difficult for him to have the same sense of right and wrong.

The judge, sitting with a magistrate, went on: "We are quite satisfied that at the age of 29, you must know you weren't entitled to behave in this way towards girls, who in law can't give their consent."

He added the law was designed to protect girls from themselves and people of his age had to say 'no.'

Judge Bennett said: "We think it would be wrong not to impose an immediate custodial sentence." Bainbridge, formerly of Willows Lane, Accrington, and now of Winston Road, Blackburn, admitted unlawful sexual intercourse and two counts of indecent assault.

Robert Osman, prosecuting, said Bainbridge, of previous good character, had been living alone in Accrington. Both girls came from the Accrington area.

The 13-year-old said she at first loved Bainbridge 'to bits' but then felt sorry for him. She feared she might be pregnant, although that turned out not to be, and confided in an aunt.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Bainbridge had difficulties coping with everyday life. He had been to a special school and had not been able to work for long periods.

He did not think the 13-year-old was any younger than 15 but accepted what he did was wrong.

The defendant had great difficulty relating to females his own age, sexually or emotionally.

Mr Stuart went on: "Reports make it perfectly clear his difficulties are not of his own making. If any force had been used against the girls, I wouldn't be able to argue against it but none was."

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