Jarrow man who had sex with underage girl is spared jail term

A South Tyneside man who had sex with an underage girl has been spared jail.
A man walked free from court after twice having sex with a girl 'clearly under the age of consent'.A man walked free from court after twice having sex with a girl 'clearly under the age of consent'.
A man walked free from court after twice having sex with a girl 'clearly under the age of consent'.

Gary Miller had intercourse twice with the 14-year-old, who told him her true age, within days of meeting her last spring.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the teen threatened to report what had happened after Miller told her to stop texting him following an argument a short

time after the sexual encounters.

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The police did become involved after an angry confrontation between the pair.

Prosecutor Gavin Doig told the court: "He asked her to stop texting.

"She told him she was going to the police.

"It was apparent there were many, dozens, of messages exchanged, in an angry fashion, between them.

"This ultimately led to a confrontation and led to the police being called and ultimately the defendant being arrested."

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Mr Doig added: "He was exactly 21, she was 14 years and seven months."

Miller, 21, of Priory Road, Jarrow, admitted two charges of having sexual activity with a child.

Judge Penny Moreland sentenced him to a three year community order with group work and programme requirements.

The judge said Miller's personal circumstances, which include having his own home and a job, meant he could be spared prison.

He must sign the sex offenders register for five years.

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Judge Moreland told him: "After an argument you told her you wanted to end the relationship. She was upset and that upset lasted a number of days.

"During the course of that upset she reported to the police what had occurred."

The judge said if she had not assessed Miller as suitable for a sentence in the community, he would have gone to prison for two years.

Judge Moreland told him: "You should be very, very clear that I have identified the appropriate sentence for your offending as two years imprisonment.

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"If you breach any conditions of the community order or commit further offences you will come back into my court and you will serve that two year

sentence."

Graeme Cook, defending, said Miller had a troubled upbringing and was bullied in the past, which meant he felt more at ease mixing with younger people.

Mr Cook added: "He is immature for his age."

Mr Cook said the pair had sex together soon after meeting each other.

He added: "He then, albeit too late, decided it was too much, he didn't want to engage further with a girl who was clearly under the age of consent."