PROBATION AFTER SEX WITH 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

COURT WAS TOLD GIRL HAS A CRUSH ON JESUS FELLOWSHIP MEMBER

Source : 06/11/1999 Northampton Chronicle and Echo

A Jesus Fellowship member has been placed on probation for three years for having sex with a 12-year-old girl at one of the sect's Northamptonshire houses.

At an earlier hearing, the man, aged 20, from north Wales, admitted unlawful sexual intercourse with the young virgin.

Since then he has been on remand at a centre in Wales.

Yesterday at Northampton Crown Court, he was told by Judge Francis Allen: 'You have been doing quite well there. You will stay there for another 12 months and continue to attend the sex offenders' group.'

In September the court was told the girl, who was staying with her family, had a crush on the man.

She had crept into the stables of the home at 2am for a secret tryst after telling the man she wanted to have sex with him.

The court was then told that the man was consumed with guilt, but had ignored his conscience because the girl has pursued him.

Prosecutor Nicola Smith said concern had been expressed at the Jesus Fellowship and the man had been given appropriate advice.

After the September hearing, a spokesman for the Jesus Fellowship, said: 'We are looking carefully at the circumstances and will be consulting with social services with a view to improving our child protection policy.'