A Rotherham man has appeared before court for sentencing after being convicted of having sex with an underage teenager in the back of his car.

Denying his actions throughout the investigation, Ward changed his plea on day two of the trial, admitting he was guilty of sexual activity with a child.

Ward of no fixed abode was therefore convicted of sexual activity with a child under 16 (penetration) and was sentenced to time in prison.

The investigation showed how on 7 April 2023, Ward convinced his vulnerable victim out of her home in the middle of the night and into the back of his Jaguar car.

After grooming his victim for over a year, he took his opportunity to exploit the girl, leaving her petrified and to return home. The victim too scared to speak bravely confided in a family member and a police investigation began. As part of the investigation, DNA was recovered from the victim’s clothes and matched to Ward.

On Tuesday 6 February Ward was sentenced to 10 months in prison, ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge and placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. He was also given a restraining order against the victim for ten years. Victims of sexual offences are granted anonymity for life. Anyone identifying them through comments will be investigated.