Man jailed for sex with 15-year-old (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Man jailed for sex with 15-year-old

A MAN who was arrested for having sex with a 15-year-old girl after she told her parents she was pregnant has been jailed for a total of two years and three months.

Michael Knights, aged 21, of Blackwell Road, Tredington, was sentenced to 12 months for two charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, to which he had pleaded guilty.

But a judge at Warwick Crown Court also imposed a consecutive 15-month sentence for aggravated vehicle taking and driving with excess alcohol in his blood, which he had also admitted.

Andrew Smith, prosecuting, said that in November last year the parents of a 15-year-old girl became concerned when they heard she had been picked up by the police in Weston-super-Mare, where she had gone with Knights.

The girl later carried out a pregnancy test, which was positive, and told her parents, who contacted the police.

A second test was carried out which confirmed the pregnancy result, and the girl told officers she had had sex with Knights on three or four occasions.

Mr Smith pointed out that Knights had entered his guilty pleas on the basis that he had sex with the girl on three occasions, once in the grounds of a school, once in the grounds of a hospital, and once at his sister's home.

Knights, who was arrested and admitted he knew the girl was only 15, was granted bail.

In the early hours of March 5 this year police attempted to stop a Ford Fiesta, which had been stolen from outside a house in Shipston and was being driven along the Fosse Way towards Tredington.

But Knights, who had three passengers, sped off along country lanes at more than 70mph, and a stinger device failed to bring the car to a halt.

The pursuit lasted for several miles before Knights crashed the car through farm gates and drove along a track before jumping out.

He ran off but was caught and a breath test showed he was over the limit.

Knights, who had previous convictions for taking cars, burglary and theft, told police he had drunk six cans of lager and a Bacardi in Shipston, and had then stolen the car to get home.

John Maxwell, for Knights, said: "There was obviously a significant age gap between the defendant and the girl, but there is absolutely no suggestion that he forced the girl or applied any pressure to her."

Mr Maxwell pointed out that the girl told the police she had not wanted it to be reported to them, observing 'it takes two.'

Mr Maxwell added that Knights had been completely frank with the police when he was arrested.

Jailing Knights, Judge Richard Cole told him: "The child was 15, and she consented to what was going on.

"But the serious nature of the offence is that, as you know, it is an illegal matter to have intercourse with a girl under the age of 16."