JAILED: Man sexually assaulted girl he groomed online

Taron Sahota, 19 at the time of the offences but now 20, came into contact with the victim through social media before the couple met for the first time outside a McDonald's restaurant in Coseley at her instigation.

The engineering apprentice pretended to be younger than his actual age to gain her confidence, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

She arrived for the meeting with a friend and he drove the pair to the Clent Hills where the other girl got out of the car to make a call on September 5 last year, it was said.

As soon as she left the vehicle Sahota climbed into the back and indecently assaulted the 15-year-old but halted the attack when she pleaded with him to stop, the jury were told during his trial.

The defendant then drove the two girls to a location near their homes where they were dropped off and police were alerted.

Sahota, from Stanley Road, Oldbury and of previous good character, was convicted of both sexual activity with a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming after a trial. He had pleaded not guilty.

Mr Howard Cohen, defending, stressed: "This is not a sophisticated predator. The social contact that ended with the meeting was started by the girl.

"It is accepted that there was a lack of maturity from him. After dialogue over social media led to an opportunity he took advantage of it. The victim was vulnerable but, other than her age, he was unaware of this.

"He accepts the court must demonstrate that children must be protected from adults who behave in this opportunist way. Despite the relatively slight difference in their ages, he was an adult and he is filled with remorse."

Sahota was ordered to be detained for four years at a young offenders institution by Judge Nicholas Webb, who commented: "The fact you pleaded not guilty, forcing the girl to give evidence, effectively calling her a liar, makes any expression of remorse that much less forceful.

"She was sexually assaulted as soon as you got into the back of the car with her. That is clearly what you were after.

"When she did not respond as you wanted and asked you to stop, you did desist.

"There was not a huge difference in your ages but this was a young man trying to exploit an even younger girl."