April 2007 Tearful defendent groomed ‘willing’ teenage girl on net A 20 year-old man who contacted and groomed a 14-year-old girl for sex narrowly avoided going to prison on Monday when a judge suspended a nine month sentence for two years. Clifford May, often tearful in the dock at Isleworth Crown Court, must remain under supervision for the two years, stay on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and is subject to a stringent sexual offences prevention order for 10 years. Jobless May of Sandalwood Road, Feltham, admitted one charge of sexual activity with a child on July 30 last year. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, disappeared from her home and her parents contacted the police. They found May’s details on letters in her bedroom, prosecutor Sally Fudge, told the court. She was traced to May’s home where, it was discovered, they had had some sexual activity short of full sex. May agreed he had made contact with the girl through an internet chatroom. Counsel said: “She was a willing participant but when he asked for sex, she said no and he accepted that. “They had been communicating over the internet, by mobile phone and by letter.” Defence counsel Bernard Phelvin said the case was at the lower end of the scale of such offences. He said: “He is not gifted academically. “He had a wretched childhood and background and has low abilities. “The girl came quite voluntarily and agreed to the behaviour and when she told him to stop, he did.” Mr Phelvin added that May now had a job and a girlfriend aged 18. Sentencing May, Judge Andrew McDowall warned him “he knew what to expect” if he re-offended.