Description
A Huddersfield predator who claimed he was involved in a “loving” relationship with a teenage girl has been jailed.
Alexander Rowe, now 30, committed a number of sex offences against the youngster and has been put behind bars for five years.
Rowe, of Marsh, admitted having a sexual relationship with the victim when he was initially questioned by police, but denied the offences and was found guilty of inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity and sexual activity with her following a trial at Bradford Crown Court.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the girl said she had been prescribed anti-depressants and the offending had affected her day-to-day life. She said it had been difficult to put into words how it had affected her, but it was a lot to go through at her age.
Barrister Anastasis Tasou, for Rowe, said his client maintained what he had said in his evidence that this was a “loving and reciprocal relationship” with the complainant.
Mr Tasou told the court Rowe was a man of previous good character and a great many positive testimonials had been submitted on his behalf. He said: “This is his first and likely to be his only experience of custody."
Recorder Patrick Palmer said Rowe and the victim had exchanged messages on Snapchat and he had asked the teenager to send sexual pictures of herself. He told Rowe: “You of course pleaded not guilty to these matters. You had your trial before the jury and you were convicted of these offences.
"You do not have any extra punishment because you fought the case but there cannot be any credit for a guilty plea.”
Recorder Palmer imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention on Rowe and told him he would also have to register as a sex offender with the police.