AN 18-year-old who “groomed” a young Redditch girl online before meeting up and having sex with her has been given a suspended detention order.

Connor Abley, now 19, of Berryfields, Aldridge, near Walsall, admitted meeting the 14-year-old girl after grooming, engaging in sexual activity in her presence and having sex with her.

Gareth Walters, prosecuting, said the girl’s mother alerted police after she confiscated the teenager’s mobile phone and found messages between her and Abley, who had expressed his love for her.

Mr Walters said the girl’s friend initially put out a Blackberry Messenger communication and three men contacted the two girls, including Abley.

Abley chatted to the 14-year-old, calling her “princess” and "beautiful" and they exchanged their ages.

She spoke to Abley over Skype, during which time he carried out sexual activity in front of her.

In March, Abley met the girl and they went to Arrow Valley Lake in Redditch and then to a fair before they caught a bus to near her home.

Mr Walters added they went to fields behind her home, where they had sex.

In a victim statement to Worcester Crown Court, the girl said she felt ashamed and embarrassed and that she had “lost a part of me”.

Abigail Nixon, defending, said Abley was naïve and immature, behaved as though he was aged 15 and had been bullied at school.

Judge Michael Cullum gave Abley a 16 month detention order, suspended for two years.

Abley was also ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work in the community and 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

He was barred from working with children, put on the sexual offenders’ register for seven years and given a restraining order banning him from any contact with the girl.

The judge said Abley had taken advantage of the girl and his conduct was “abusive”.