A BURNLEY man who seduced and had sex with a schoolgirl has been jailed for two years.

Friends of the 15-year-old victim told Mushraf Ali, 29, that she was underage, a trial at Burnley Crown Court heard earlier this year.

But Ali, of Burns Street, Burnley, proceeded to have sex with the teenager on at least three occasions, usually in the back of his car.

He denied four offences of unlawful sexual activity with a child between July 1 and August 31 last year but was convicted after a trial in Burnley last September.

Judge Jonathan Gibson jailed Ali for two years. He must also sign the sex offenders registers upon his release.

Prosecutor Kathryn Johnson told a jury Ali chatted up the youngster while she was walking home with her younger sister one afternoon.

He asked her for her mobile phone number then sent her text messages until she agreed to meet up with him.

But the girl’s friends became concerned as their relationship developed and they were spotted together at Tesco’s car park in Burnley, the court was told.

One girl was said to have texted Ali and told him her friend was only 15. The girls fell out over the relationship, with the friend threatening to report Ali to police.

Ali went on to have sex with the girl on at least three occasions.

He also bought the girl alcohol and cigarettes during their relationship, which tailed off as the summer progressed.

Some time later though the girl’s mother discovered a text message from Ali on her daughter’s mobile phone and challenged her about their time together.