AN Ellesmere Port man has received a suspended sentence after inciting a schoolgirl to engage in sexual acts.

Prosecuting, Paulinus Barnes said police had been made aware of concerns regarding grooming between Marriott-Levett and his victim, when he was a adult and she was 14.

The victim was interviewed and it was revealed a number of text messages had been exchanged between the two over several months.

Police examined “dozens” of messages, which talked about sex acts, although it appeared the first mention of a specific sex act was made when someone else had temporarily taken the victim’s phone to send a message making the suggested sex act explicit.

Further message conversations referred to a sex act which had taken place and arranging for the next time it could happen.

Police interviewed Marriott-Levett and he admitted sending those messages, and could not explain why he had done so.

The victim, in a personal statement read out to the court, said she did not realise at the time how much it affected her.

She had anxiety and depression and had been struggling to cope, and found it hard to trust other people.

Mr Barnes added Marriott-Levett had previous convictions, but nothing similar to this on his record.

Judge Simon Berkson said the victim in this case was vulnerable and had written a “moving” victim personal statement.

While noting the offences were serious, the judge said it had been some time since they had taken place and the defendant had admitted them very early on.

As well as the two-year suspended sentence, Marriott-Levett must carry out 35 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and a sexual offending accredited programme.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The devices Marriott-Levett used to communicate with the victim were to be forfeited and destroyed.