A MAN has been put on the sex offenders register for life after taking indecent pictures of a Blackburn schoolgirl.

James Constantine Henry, 24, of Old Trafford, Manchester, was also given 100 hours community work and a 12 months supervision order after admitting taking photographs and videos on his mobile phone.

He was found not guilty of five of the original seven offences he was charged with abducting a child, three counts of sexual activity with a child, and possession of indecent photographs of a child for show.

He admitted two offences of taking an indecent photograph of a teenage girl.

But he claimed that he had never been aware of the girl's age and believed she was over 16.

Caroline Gee, prosecuting, said the teenager had told police in an interview that she had had unprotected sex with Henry but had not been forced into it.

Miss Gee said: "She said he treated her well and never hurt her.

"She said it was her who told him she was 17 years old at first and only revealed her true age and that she was missing from home after the pair had an argument.

"She said she had sex with him because she loved him and she wanted to."

Mr Henry admitting to having still photographs and videos of the girl performing sex acts.

Miss Gee said: "She said she had done the videos knowingly and through her own free will as she wanted to be a porn star."

Bernadette Baxter, defending, told Preston Crown Court that Henry, who had previously done voluntary work in the community, had been naive and immature and was a man of good character and a "valuable member of society".

She said: "He honestly believed at all times she was 17. It is clear that this was a relationship in which the defendant behaved decently towards the girl and was the beginnings of a relationship he had hoped would continue."

In sentencing Henry, Judge Jonathan Foster said: "You were described as naive and with that description I entirely agree."

Judge Foster added that after seeing photographs of the girl himself he believed she did look older than her years.

Henry was also ordered to pay £500 costs.