A Tameside man has been jailed after sexually exploiting a teenage girl.
Stephen Deegan aged 24 of Bengal Square, Ashton-under-Lyne was sentenced today at Minshull Street Crown Court to three years and four months in prison.
He was also given an indefinite requirement to sign the Sex Offender’s Register after previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual communication with a child.
The court heard how Deegan began speaking to the 14-year-old girl from Tameside on Facebook in April 2017.He repeatedly messaged her on social media and asked her to send him inappropriate images.
The following month,Deegan met with the girl in Ashton-Under-Lyne where he had sex with her on two separate occasions that day.He told her if anyone found out they would be angry with her.
Thankfully, messages between Deegan and the teenager were uncovered by her family and on Tuesday 23 May 2017 the victim told officers everything. Deegan was subsequently arrested.
PC Mike Allen, of GMP’s Operation Phoenix Tameside team, said: “Firstly I would like to commend this young girl for having the courage to report these incidents to the police.
“Deegan knew full well how old the girl was but took advantage and continued to pursue her for his own disturbed pleasure, even though he knew it was wrong.
“His actions have had a profound effect on the victim and her family. I hope that after today’s result they can move forward with their lives and take some comfort from knowing that justice has been served and Deegan is now behind bars.
“I want to express my gratitude to our partners who ultimately helped us achieve the result we have today.”
