A WARMINSTER father-of-four who had sex with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for seven years by a judge who described his behaviour as "abhorrent."

Sean Patton, 37, had frequent sex with his victim, who he became 'friendly' with after he met her and she visited his house for tea, the court was told.

Patton, of Portway, was reported to police by the victim's mother, who became suspicious after she heard her daughter talking to him often on FaceTime.

On Tuesday he pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court to three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, taking indecent photos of a child and possessing indecent photos of a child. He also admitted distributing indecent photos of a child and causing or inciting sexual activity with a child under 16.

The court heard Patton that between August 2014 and February 2015 he had sex with the schoolgirl in his sitting room, his car, a garden shed and even once at his mother's house.

Patton, who has worked for a waste management company, videoed himself having having sex with the girl and then sent clips of it to her and her friend.

He then persuaded the girls to send him explicit photos of themselves from their phones.

James Tucker, prosecuting, said: "The defendant targeted and groomed a girl who was 13 when he first made contact and 14 at the time of the offences.

The court heard the victim's relationship with Patton changed and he began to 'cuddle' her when they were left alone together.

Mr Tucker said: "She described on another occasion he was driving her home and he pulled the car over.

"She said she didn't want to have sex in the car, but reluctantly agreed to do so."

Mr Tucker added: "There was frequent full sex between them.

"It happened in the sitting room at his house, in the garden shed, in the car, and in the room he shared with his now ex-partner.

"Once it happened at the defendant's mother's home address."

In a police interview, the victim told Patton once filmed them having sex.

Mr Tucker said: "That footage was then used by him to persuade her and her friend to send sexually explicit images to him from their phones.

"In one text message to the girls he said 'what colour panties are you both wearing?'

"He then requested explicit images in order for them receive clips of the video of him and the victim having sex."

The court heard the victim's mother became suspicious because of the amount of time her daughter was spending on FaceTime with Patton.

The mother asked her partner to look at the girl's phone and he took a screen shot of their text messages. She latter reported him to police.

Mr Tucker said: "This was not a relationship based on affection from him to her.

"Rather it was him targeting her, making her feel loved and special and using the trust she placed in him to exploit her sexually for his gratification."

Jane Rowley, defending, said: "Mr Patton has a significant bond with his four children.

"He is scared of going to prison because the thought of being away from his children is tearing his heart out.

"He is held in high esteem by members of his family, with his sister here in court today.

"His wrongdoing will impact him for many years."

Sentencing him to seven years in jail, Recorder Simon Foster said: "You were more than twice her age and she was substantially younger than your daughter.

"She met you and that led to you going to her home for tea.

"What you went on to do presents the gravest breach of trust.

"The sexual activity happened over a six month period. The victim described it as a secret relationship.

"I regard it as abhorrent activity that you then went on to take a video of her."

Patton was also sentenced to a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

After the case Sergeant Nick Bailey, of Wiltshire Police, said: “The defendant took advantage of the victim's age and naivety for his own sexual gratification, which was a complete abuse of trust.

"I feel that the sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the case.

"This has been a very stressful time for the victim and her family and I hope that they will now be able to start rebuilding their lives and focus on the future.”