Schoolgirl lured into sex act by Plymouth newlywed

A MAN forced himself on a child only months after he was married, a court heard.

Stephen Noble, aged 27 admitted inciting the girl, aged under 16, to engage in sexual activity.

Noble befriended the girl and she visited him to talk, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

But Noble instead took her to a room and he performed a sexual act – before getting dressed hurriedly when he thought he heard his wife approaching.

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Judge Paul Darlow ordered probation and psychiatric reports and released Noble on bail as an "act of mercy".

Noble, of Eastfield Avenue, Hooe, admitted as his trial began to causing or inciting a girl aged under 16 to engage in sexual activity between February 1 and April 1 last year. The girl cannot be identified for legal reasons.

He denied an alternative charge of rape, a plea which was accepted by the prosecution. Judge Darlow directed the jury to return a "not guilty" verdict.

Mary McCarthy, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the jury in opening the trial that Noble was married in January 2011.

She added that he had already met the girl socially some time before.

Miss McCarthy said: "His wife worked and on days when she was at work phone records show he was in frequent phone contact with the girl."

The court heard on one day they exchanged 143 text messages, but Miss McCarthy said the girl had never been to his home.

She added one day in February the girl had a row with her parents after school and wanted to talk to Noble.

Miss McCarthy said he suggested they meet in her school uniform.

She added the girl changed but did decide to visit Noble.

Miss McCarthy said: "They talked but after a short time he instigated sexual activity. That is not what she expected to happen. She was scared."

She added they dressed hurriedly when Noble thought he heard his wife coming home, though in fact nobody was there.

Miss McCarthy said the pair stayed in contact and police did not become involved until her friend happened to see a message on the social networking site Facebook.

Paul Rowsell, for Noble, said he was under the care of a psychiatrist and was under a great deal of stress because of the case.

Judge Darlow released him on bail to return for sentence on December 7.