A 47-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for more than six years for sexual offences against a 15-year-old girl.
James Kenneth Stewart, of Station Road, Royston, pleaded guilty to causing/inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16, and grooming a child under 16.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
Stewart will serve six-and-a-half years and will spend a further three-and-a-half years on licence, when he will be closely monitored.
Stewart befriended the teenager in October 2013, telling her he was 19 when he first made contact.
They were in contact for nine months, which progressed to Stewart meeting the girl and inciting her to engage in sexual activity.
Det Insp John Fitzgibbons said: "He pretended to be someone he wasn't, using fake names and ages to establish contact with her for the sole purpose of sexual exploitation.
"He also bought her alcohol and cigarettes as part of his plan to exploit and manipulate her."
** The full story is in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated October 31. **
