A MAN who made a girl feel “pressured” into engaging in sexual activity with him in North Wales has been jailed.

Alexander McLaughlin, 35, of St Abbs Way, Bradford, was sentenced to six years and nine months’ imprisonment at Mold Crown Court today (October 3).

He had previously admitted, at a plea and trial preparation hearing on June 30, five counts of adult sexual activity with a female child.

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Prosecuting, Simon Rogers told the court that, on April 9, 2021, police received a report that McLaughlin had been engaging in sexual activity with a girl.

The girl was interviewed by police in July 2022, during which she told of how the first such incident involved McLaughlin touching her over her clothing.

She “froze” as he did this, she said, before she then “broke down in tears”.

McLaughlin went on to tell the girl that he “had a crush on her”, before he began “touching her continuously”.

A later incident involved McLaughlin forcing her to perform a sex act upon him; she did so, as she felt “pressured” to do it, but felt “sick” as a result.

Messages recovered between the girl and McLaughlin included the defendant calling her “beautiful”, while analysis of their mobile phones showed evidence of deleted messages.

When interviewed by police, McLaughlin gave no comment.

In a statement, the girl said: “It has taken me months to understand what had happened wasn’t OK, and was serious. It has caused me anxiety, and I’m now very cautious around people.

“I would go upstairs, and curl up into a little ball. I didn’t know how or where the abuse was going to stop.

“He has taken my childhood and my innocence. He has ruined a part of my life.”

Defending McLaughlin, who had no previous convictions, cautions or reprimands, Lionel Greig said he “regrets his actions”, and is “deeply sorry”.

McLaughlin “fell under the mistaken belief that he was in love” with the girl, Mr Greig added.

“This is a case where the defendant should not have allowed things to get the better of him,” he said.

Mr Greig added that there was no prior or further offending by McLaughlin, either.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts also issued McLaughlin with a 20-year sexual harm prevention order.

McLaughlin must also adhere to sex offenders register notification requirements, and a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim, for life.

He is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults, and will pay a statutory surcharge upon his release from prison.

Judge Petts told him: “It’s clear she felt scared and confused by what you were doing to and with her.

“Inevitably, what you did will have an impact on her ability to trust people; particularly in relationships.

“Your abhorrent behaviour clearly needs an immediate prison sentence.”