A man who groomed a 15-year-old girl for sexual relations has been jailed for nine years.

Steven Pipe, 31, of High House Road, Bolton, Bradford, was imprisoned by Judge David Hatton QC at Bradford Crown Court yesterday after a jury convicted him of three charges of sexual activity with a child under 16.

After the case, Detective Constable Jodie Hayes, of Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Pipe took advantage of his victim’s young age and vulnerability and coerced her into having regular sexual activity with him.

“We would like to thank the victim for her courage in coming forward and hope that the sentence passed down today will help to give her some comfort.

“We also hope it will encourage other victims to come forward and speak to our trained officers, who will investigate all reports of sexual abuse thoroughly and sensitively, no matter how historic.”