Locations
Churchill Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39
Description
A 39-year-old father has been jailed for having sex with a schoolgirl who was less than half his age.
John Baines had an eight-month sexual relationship with the vulnerable 15-year-old girl.
He plied her with the alcopop WKD and other alcohol and took her for treats at McDonalds before the girl realised the relationship was wrong and ended it.
Baines’ infatuation with the teenager led to the break up of his own marriage and she started sneaking away from her home to spend time with him when he set up home on his own.
The victim later told police that meeting him secretly made her feel ‘weird and cringy’, Exeter Crown Court was told.
Car valeter Baines, of Churchill Road, Bideford, admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for three years and four months by Judge David Evans.
He told him: ”You took advantage of the trust which you had generated in her to engage in sexual acts with her. She knew and you knew that what was happening was wrong. It was not just immoral, but illegal.
“You told her you loved her, bought her trainers and took her to McDonalds, you were treating someone who was more than half your age as if you were in a proper adult relationship.
“You treated her in a way in which you should never treat a child, on occasions drinking alcohol with her. You knew she was at a rather vulnerable stage of her life and took advantage of that.”
Mr Richard Crabb, prosecuting, said the sexual activity started when the girl visited Baines’ home and stayed up late with him drinking.
She trusted him as a father figure but the physical contact, which started with kissing and cuddling, developed into sexual acts.
The relationship lasted for about nine months and in that time sexual activity took place at his family home when there was no one else around, and at his new home when his marriage broke up.
On one occasion it progressed as far as full intercourse. She ended the relationship but he carried on contacting her and trying to meet her.
Mr Nicolas Gerasimidis, defending, said Baines was less mature emotionally than his physical age and now regrets what he has done.
He said:”He has lost everything. He has lost his relationship with his wife. He is estranged from his family and particularly his daughter.
"He recognises the damage he has done because of a foolish decision which he now regrets.”