A MECHANIC who started an illicit relationship with a 13-year-old girl has been jailed for eight months.

Sean McNaughton, 26, was jailed at Swindon Crown Court on Friday after admitting two counts of child abduction, two of sexual activity with a child and one of meeting a child after grooming.

He will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Although McNaughton did not have a full sexual relationship with the child he allowed her to stay at his home in Heathfield, Chippenham. While there she was allowed to drink alcohol, smoke cannabis and share his bed.

Chris Smyth, prosecuting, said McNaughton met the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, through one of her friends in June 2005.

He picked up the girl and her friend, who knew McNaughton, when he was taking them to a barbecue. Mr Smyth said he took a shine to the victim and it was arranged that both of the girls would spend the night at his house. The girl told her mother she was staying at a friend's home.

Mr Smyth said the relationship developed from friendship into something more intimate.

"They kissed one another on the lips and cuddled one another," he said. "She was telling mum she was staying elsewhere.

"Evidence of the other girl, who was also staying at his house, was that after a period of time the girl and defendant were sharing a bed together at night.

"It appears they remained clothed and the prosecution do not say anything transpired but kissing and cuddling."

Later in the summer the girl was due to go away to Somerset with a friend's family but was missing McNaughton, so halfway through the week she called him and he collected her and took her back to his home where she stayed for the rest of the holiday.

On return she told her mum what had happened and the police were contacted.

When questioned McNaughton, who has previous convictions for burglary, assault and a drugs offence, told police the girl was a friend. McNaughton is now living with his parents in Pinewood Way, Colerne.

Ian Halliday, defending, said while the offences of sexual activity and abduction sound very serious the reality was quite different.

He said the sexual activity amounted to kissing and cuddling and the abduction was her staying with him without a parent's permission. His client cared very much for the girl, he said, but had been a young and nave man'.

Judge John McNaught said: "Mr Halliday on your behalf urges me that this isn't really serious, that nothing happened between you and this young girl and I ought not send you to prison.

"I say it is serious. You were 25, nearly twice the age of this child. You allowed her to deceive her mum as to where she was.

"I ask myself what would her mother say if she knew, what would mothers of other 13-year-old girls say if I didn't pass a custodial sentence?"