A 19 year old man from Heysham has been sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in a youth offenders institution after admitting having sex with a 14 year old girl.

Luke Birbeck of Delamere Avenue had pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child at an earlier hearing and was sentenced yesterday (Monday 25th March) at Preston Crown Court. He’s also been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

This relates to an incident which occurred on the 9th June 2012 at a house in Heysham where Birbeck, who was 18 at the time, had engaged in sexual activity with the victim who had only just reached her 14th birthday the week before.

Speaking after the sentencing DC Brian Shepherd of Lancaster CID said “Birbeck knew full well that the victim was vulnerable due to her age and the victim told us she did not want to engage in any kind of sexual activity and had told him that.

“Despite that, Birbeck went on to commit the offences which have left her psychologically affected by his actions.

Alcohol played a big part in these offences and this should serve as a warning to others who seek to exploit young people to satisfy their own selfish sexual gratifications, the courts take a dim view of this and offenders can expect to be placed on the sex offenders register where they can be supervised properly.”