A MAN who "groomed" a teenager suffering mental health difficulties after her parents gave him a key to their house was jailed for 27 months yesterday.

Derek Long, of Corbett Road, Carterton, admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual activity with a child between 2009 and 2010.

Prosecutor Jane Brady told Oxford Crown Court that Long, now 44, was renovating the kitchen at the victim's house when he was given a key by her parents.

She said the girl, who was 15 at the time, was having problems at school and suffering from depression and anxiety, forcing her to be "housebound".

Ms Brady said the pair forged a friendship, with Long giving the teenager his telephone number and MSN details.

The prosecutor said Long told the teenager about his desire to strike up a sexual relationship with her while talking on the messaging site, and used emoticons showing sexual activities.

She said he also removed his clothes and performed sexual activities while on webcam, and engaged in sexual activity at the teenager's home.

Ms Brady said Long's offending "exacerbated" the victim's mental health conditions.

She added: "He initially told her he loved her and he wanted to live with her and have a family with her."

Defence barrister Lyall Thompson said Long did not admit the offences at the earliest opportunity because it took "some time" before he had the "courage" and "bravery" to plead guilty.

He said Long was at a "low ebb" at the time of his offending and "succumbed to temptation".

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said messages between Long and the victim showed "grooming behaviour" and there was "significant disparity" in age.

Judge Ross also rejected Ms Brady’s application to make Long subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Long was also ordered to sign the sexual offenders register.