A FATHER-of-five who had sex with a 14-year-old girl was today starting a 12-month jail term.

Burnley Crown Court heard how police were alerted after Andrew Ashworth's victim made a midnight 999 call from a telephone box claiming she had been raped.

Ashworth, whose wife is sick and registered blind, was told by a judge the schoolgirl had been a vulnerable victim and he had taken advantage.

Judge Pamela Badley went on: "You were expecting she would maintain her silence. You demonstrated a total lack of empathy for her and an inability to consider the trauma and distress caused by the assault."

The judge added the defendant, who had not been to custody before, was a hard-working man who supported his family and the court had received a testimonial from his employer.

Ashworth, of Bullough Close, Accrington, admitted unlawful sexual intercourse in May and his sentence included extended supervision of six months. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

The court was told the teenager rang 999, was upset and said nothing but police immediately located the call.

The girl complained she had been raped. The victim told police through video interview that Ashworth had touched her indecently, partially removed her clothing and had sex with her.

When the defendant heard somebody coming downstairs in the house where the offence was committed, he pretended nothing had happened. DNA tests later confirmed he had had sex with the girl.

Charles Brown, defending, said the court could perhaps stand back from custody as Ashworth's circumstances were tragically very different from almost any other defendant before the court.

He had a number of issues to sort out and a community rehabilitation order would produce a person with far more insight than any other form of sentence.

It was not suggested there was any real danger the defendant would repeat his behaviour, but an order would provide a real guarantee that Ashworth would never put himself in the position where he was likely to be tempted let alone commit a similar offence in the future.

Mr Brown said Ashworth and his wife had been married for nine years and he looked after his wife on a daily basis.

The defendant was concerned about the effect of the offence on his wife but she would stand by him.

The barrister added there was no forcing sex on the aggrieved who was already sexually aware, although under age.