A FORMER worker at a fast food restaurant has been jailed for 12 months for having a sexual relationship with a girl of 14.

Jonathan Halpin, 27, stood in the dock at Bradford Crown Court with his head bowed as Judge Jonathan Rose told him: "You took advantage of her when she was a child."

Halpin, of Crag Road, Windhill, Shipley, pleaded guilty to two charges of having sex with the girl in 2010 when he was 20-years-old.

Prosecutor Stephen Wood told the court the complainant went to the police in 2015 to disclose that she had a sexual relationship with Halpin when she was under age.

He had contacted her on Facebook and she visited him at his home where they had sex three times.

The relationship ended when her mother found out about it.

The girl said Halpin was jealous and possessive and she felt harassed by him.

She felt that he had taken advantage of her when she was a child.

In mitigation, Halpin's solicitor advocate Andrew Walker said his client had a troubled upbringing and described him as being immature at the time of the offences.

He had genuine feelings for the girl and had worked hard since the age of 16.

He had no previous convictions and had been a volunteer at Shipley Youth Cafe drop in centre, teaching work skills to young people looking for employment.

Halpin was the father of a young child and expecting to be a father again in the near future, Mr Walker added.

Judge Rose conceded that Halpin had an emotional attachment to the girl, who had never had sex until she began her relationship with him.

Jailing Halpin, the judge said: "This is to deter other young men who may be tempted to think that the age of consent doesn't apply or is not important."

Halpin must register as a sex offender for the ten years and the judge made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order banning him from ever contacting his victim.