A MAN who ‘groomed’ an 11-year-old girl into a sexual relationship has been jailed.

James McArthur, 21, was caught when the victim skipped school and her dad found incriminating text messages on her mobile phone.

Police said the dad-of-two had attempted to ‘incite’ several young girls and when one responded, he stepped up his grooming with face to face meetings and phone contact.

He began sending her ‘obscene texts’ and encouraged her to send him pictures and perform sexual acts.

This continued over several months between 2009 and 2010 until the victim’s parents found the ‘inappropriate’ messages and called police.

Officers think he deliberately targeted the girl, who was in her first year at high school, because of her age.

DC Tracey McMurdo said: “McArthur has purposely targeted such a young girl rather than an older teenager because she was easier to manipulate and although she may have understood some of the words he used, she did not understand at all the adult implications of them.

“He has forced her to deal with adult issues much earlier than she should have had to.”

The girl’s father said: “This case has resulted in massive stress for myself and my family.

"The whole incident and the lead up to the court case has caused me many sleepless nights.

“Previous to this crime I didn't mind if my children popped out or were round at a friend’s house, but now I am paranoid about where they are.

“If they are slightly late I am worried that something has happened to them, and I am out on the streets looking for them.

“I would just like to stress again all the upset that McArthur has caused in my family by not admitting to what he had done earlier.

“He left it until the day of the trial when we were all ready to go to court.

"We had to look round the court the previous week. My daughter was really stressed, worried and nervous as was I.

“If he had admitted it earlier he could have saved us a lot of stress and sleepless nights.”

McArthur, formerly of Walter Street, Audley Range, Blackburn, admitted sexual assault on a child under 13, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Two similar charges will lie on the file.

He was jailed for 22 months and given a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from contacting or communicating with females under 18, approaching or associating with females under 18 and allowing females under 18 to enter his home.

He cannot work with children and must sign the Sex Offenders Register.

DC McMurdo said: “There has been a massive impact on the girl and her family.

"McArthur treated this child as though she was an adult, and groomed her to the point of providing her with a mobile phone so he could keep in contact with her.

"Fortunately her family discovered this in time to stop his actions and bring it to the attention of the police.

“I hope this case gives hope to victims who believe they won’t be listened to and encourages them to come forward and make a complaint.

“We have a full team of officers dedicated to investigating these types of offences and bringing offenders to justice.

“The victim in this case has shown immense bravery and courage.

"I hope this sentence, and the fact that McArthur will continue to be monitored on his release from prison, will be of some comfort to her and her family and will allow them to move forward with their lives.”