A Dundee teenager who had sex with an underage girl had already been warned off by the girl’s family, a court has heard.
Owen Glenn, 17, of Drumlanrig Drive, Dundee, had sexual relations with the girl who was between the ages of 13 and 16 at the time of the offence.
He was sent to detention for nine months by Sheriff Alastair Brown at Dundee Sheriff Court on Wednesday after being told by the sheriff his actions were “not acceptable or excusable.”
Glenn had admitted the offence which happened on July 5 last year at a house in Dundee.
Solicitor David Sinclair, defending, said Glenn had acted in an “immature and irresponsible manner” in his actions towards the girl, who he said was around 14 or 15 at the time of the offence.
He said he suffered from a condition called Dyspraxia which had affected his “emotional well-being and development.”
“Due to this, his interactions have been with younger people,” he said.
“At the time of the offence, he was 16 and only just an adult, but he knew that she was not of age and that it was a criminal act.”
Sheriff Brown intervened at that point, stating: “He was warned off by the girl’s family.”
Mr Sinclair agreed, saying: “He made a serious mistake, a serious error of judgment. He has already felt the consequences in that he was suspended from school and from college.
“It has been a very harsh lesson for him to learn and has opened his and his family’s eyes as to the very fine line he is walking.”
The court heard Glenn had no previous convictions, however Sheriff Alastair Brown said there was “no mitigation” to persuade him not to impose a sentence of detention.
He told Glenn: “This is an anxious and difficult case because of your age and the difficulties you have had in your past.
“Mr Sinclair has done fair justice to your case however this was not a matter for judgment, that implies that there is a choice but there is no choice.
“Those who are over 16 and have sex with people under 16 commit an offence you simply do not do it.”
Glenn was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.