Man jailed for sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl


A man who had sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl he met at an outdoor party has been jailed for three years and two months.
Daniel Birch, 24, of Overton Way, Wrexham had admitted a charge of sexual activity with a child and was at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence.
The court heard the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had drunk a combination of red wine and vodka and was drunk at the time of the offence.
Jailing him for 38 months Judge Huw Rees told Birch he had “taken advantage of her age and vulnerability”.
The judge added he believed there had been an element of targeting the victim by Birch.
In addition to the jail term an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made and Birch must register as a sex offender.
Mark Connor, prosecuting, said the girl had gone to a party last July with friends in Flintshire and was already intoxicated when Birch arrived at about 9pm.
The two had spoken and Birch had been told by another girl that the victim was 15. It was clear, Mr Connor said, that the girl was drunk. She was described by a friend as being unable to walk and speak properly.
Separated from her friends when the offence occurred the girl tried to contact her companions during the early hours but was able to make her way home, the court heard.
Police were alerted later that day when her parents found out about the party.
Arrested and interviewed Birch denied any sexual activity had taken place and claimed forensic tests would bear this out.
Mr Connor said these tests proved that sexual activity had taken place.