Steven Strange 36

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Steven Strange was banned from contact with youngsters aged under 16 by court order

A convicted child rapist who formed an acquaintance with a vulnerable 14-year-old girl has been jailed.

Steven Strange was banned from contact with children aged under-16 under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). But he met the girl at a Bristol park, gave her his mobile number and they went on several walks together, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Strange, 34, of Jacob's Wells Road in Bristol, pleaded guilty to two breaches of the SHPO. He also admitted failing to notify his whereabouts under sex offender notification.

Yesterday (May 24) the recorder Mr Richard Smith QC jailed him for 18 months. He told Strange: "You have a history of sex offending and non-compliance."

Sam Jones, prosecuting, said Strange approached the girl when she was sitting on a bench. After telling her he was 21 and called Steven he gave her his mobile number and, feeling uncomfortable, she went home but returned later.

The court heard they then walked together and agreed to meet the next day. Having met again they went for another walk and went to Strange's address - where the girl remained outside.

But, having argued with her mum, the girl returned to Strange's address. The court heard she walked around in the dark with him until she went home around 1am.

Mr Jones said the next day Strange, having got the girl's mobile number, rang her but her mum intercepted the call and refused him from seeing her. She then reported the incident to police, who ran a check on Strange and his mobile number and tracked him down.

Strange told police he didn't know the girl, but said he had given a girl a cigarette. Police found the youngster outside his address and, when interviewed, Strange said he thought she was aged over 16.

Catherine Spedding, defending, said her client had a troubled background and, after speaking to the girl, he felt there was an accord between them due to their experiences. Miss Spedding said: "If he wanted to commit sex offences there was opportunity when he could have done so. There is no suggestion of any sexual contact between them."

Miss Spedding added that, due to her client's "chaotic and disorganised lifestyle", he had failed to register his address to police as he was required to do following convictions for rape of a girl aged under 16 and two sexual assaults.