A 31-YEAR-OLD man who had sex with a schoolgirl was today starting a two-month jail term.

Simon Smith, of Whalley Road, Accrington, was convicted of one charge of unlawful sexual intercourse after a two-day trial at Burnley Crown Court.

The defendant, who had been charged with two allegations, denied both and was jailed by Judge Raymond Bennett. He had wept as he gave evidence and as he was led away from the dock, Smith was put on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

The court had been told how after Smith, then 29, was arrested he at first told police he had not had sex with the 14 year old victim. Later he said he had had sex once with the schoolgirl but when he was later interviewed again he said he had confessed because he had had a bad week and everything had got to him.

The defendant told police the girl had fancied him and had wanted a relationship, but he had not wanted to "touch her," because she was too young.

He claimed he had not wanted to have sex with her but she had told him she was "15 going on 16."

The defendant, a regular at Clayton Baptist Church, Accrington, had told police going out with the 14-year-old would be like going out with his sister.