Telford man, 21, is sent back to jail after sex with girl

Balraj Singh of Crescent Road, Hadley, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of sexual activity with a child.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard the offences were committed between February and November 2013 while Singh was on bail for a charge of rape.

He was later convicted by jury of the rape charge and sentenced to four years detention in a young offenders institution in 2014.

Singh was released from that sentence in January.

Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting, said Singh, then 17, had met the 13-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on Facebook in January 2013.

"The pair then met up after she spent the day at school," said Miss Powis.

"He asked her to be his girlfriend and then did not see her for three weeks.

"He said it was because his family would not approve.

"He then had phone calls with her when he asked her to live with him and they sent sexual photos to each other."

Miss Powis said Singh told the young girl he loved her and the pair met up in a park where they had sex.

The court heard that a few days later the girl received a text from Singh which said 'we are over'.

Sentencing Singh, Judge Peter Barrie said: "You were 17 years old and she was 13 when this began.

"It continued till you were both passed a birthday.

"She was clearly a vulnerable young woman with whom you contacted on Facebook and then met face-to-face."

He added: "You also had sexual talk via phones and on two occasions met for sexual activity.

"You knew her age and that she was years away from where it would be proper to be sexual towards her.

"You set out as an older man to groom her and persuade her to have sex with you."

He said: "You had committed and were being investigated for an offence of rape at the time – which you were subsequently convicted for."