A BRIERLEY Hill man who raped a 12-year-old girl after she lied about her age has been jailed for three years.

Nathan Smith, aged 21, who was described as being "well thought of in the community", pleaded guilty to sex with the schoolgirl believing she was over the age on consent.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Challinor stressed it was the responsibility of adults to ensure young girls were old enough to give their consent for sex adding: "The law is there to protect children."

He told Smith: "If you had made inquiries you would have found this girl was only 12 but you failed to do so."

The judge said it was accepted the girl had lied about her age on Facebook and she had stated she was 17 but he told Smith the harm he had done to her was "significant."

He went on: "Her immediate reaction was to run away showing she was traumatised by what you did and the effects will probably be with her for a long time."

Smith, of Orchard Street, admitted rape and he was further disqualified from ever working with children and told he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Sarah Cunningham, for Smith, said he did not pose a danger to young girls and added: "This was a lack of judgement and an impulsive decision."

She went on: "He was faced with an attractive young woman who looks older than 12. She was plainly presenting herself as someone who was older and she found him attractive.

"She sent him a number of text messages and he was flattered by the attention. He knows he should have resisted the temptation that came his way but he didn't."

Hugh O'Brien-Quinn, prosecuting, said it was accepted that sex between them was consensual but Smith should have taken steps to determine the age of the young girl.

He said that on her Facebook page the girl represented she was 19 years of age while Smith maintained she told him she was 17.

The judge said it was clear Smith had now learned a big lesson and he would now be "more aware of the danger young girls presented."