WHEN police raided a motel room suspecting child sexual activity, they discovered a teenager on a bed with a man 'in a state of undress.'

Officers had gone to the motel next to The Musketeer pub, Banbury, after it was suspected a 15-year-old girl had gone to a room there to meet a 26-year-old man with whom she had been chatting on Facebook.

Inside the room, which was one used by Cherwell District Council for emergency accomodation, they found the pair in bed with the teenager now sporting a 'large love bite' on her neck.

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Luke Freegard, of Ruscote Avenue, Banbury, had already admitted one count of sexual activity with a child.

He appeared via videolink at Oxford Crown Court to be sentenced this morning.

Outlining the case prosecutor James Lofthouse said Freegard and his teenage victim struck up a friendship before communicating via Facebook messenger.

He said the exchanges between the pair included the teenager - who cannot be named for legal reasons - saying she 'needed a sh*g', to which he replied she was 'too young.'

Despite this he went on to ask if she wanted to meet with him and when he mentioned being too old for her, she said 'age was just a number.'

Mr Lofthouse said: "It was clear he knew she was 15."

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They eventually met up where he was staying, at the motel, in June this year.

It was then that the girl's mother learned her daughter had met the man, more than a decade her senior, and she called the police.

Officers went to the motel and when they burst inside his room they found the pair on the bed with the victim in her underwear.

Mr Lofthouse added: "It was clear she had a love bite on her neck or shoulder.

"A degree of sexual activity had taken place."

The bite was described as 'quite large'.

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The court went on to hear that Freegard has three previous convictions, but for non-similar offences.

In mitigation defence barrister Jane Brady said the offence had been 'opportunistic rather than planned.'

She added that her client said he had been 'confused' as to the teenager's exact age but accepted the offence and had pleaded guilty.

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said: "She was 15 at the time and you undertook sexual activity with her, which involved giving her that rather large love bite on her neck.

"You have already served four months [in prison], I therefore consider the punitive part of your sentence has been done.

"In my judgement the assistance of the probation service is necessary in this case."

He was made subject to a community order for 24 months to include 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement and participation in the Horizon programme designed to tackle his offending.

He must also pay a victim surcharge and sign the sex offenders register.

Clarification: An earlier edition of this online article said the room was a hotel room above The Musketeer pub, based on information given in court. The room was in fact in an adjacent motel and had not been booked by the pub.