A TEENAGER from Tredegar has been given unpaid work and a suspended prison sentence for having sex with a girl under 16.

Ian Price, aged 18, of Gainsborough Road, had consensual sex with the girl on July 4 this year when he was then 17.

But police were alerted given the age difference between the two, as a child under 16 cannot legally give consent.

Price admitted sexual activity with a child in interview, although the girl claimed they had not had sex and did not wish to press charges.

Jason Howells, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court yesterday: “He was aware of her age, the age of consent being 16. When police spoke to [the victim] she denied anything had happened. She said they had only kissed. [Price] fully admitted to it anyway. In fairness to him, he gave a full and frank interview without a solicitor present. He had drunk some six cans of Strongbow and she had had one. He had worn a condom and it was consensual.”

Jeffrey Jones, defending, said: “It was all clearly consensual. He is here and supported by both his parents. He is trying to maintain a delivery job for a restaurant.”

Judge Tom Crowther QC said: “Police were involved and you admitted it immediately. Her natural sexual curiosity is to be protected from the sexual curiosity of older men. There was an enormous gulf in terms of maturity in your respective ages. The consequence, physical and emotional, of early sex can be enormous. It was your responsibility to restrain yourself but you drank and you lost control.”

He gave Price an eight month prison sentence suspended for two years, 120 hours unpaid work and a supervision order of 12 months.