A care worker who groomed a highly vulnerable woman with a learning disability before having sex with her in a toilet at a day centre has been jailed for four years and five months.

Richard Buchanan, 56, exchanged 800 texts with his victim, signing off one of them with “Missing you sexy,” Bradford Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

He gave her gifts, including a phone charger, chocolate, Coca Cola and a handbag from a British Heart Foundation charity shop.

Buchanan, who worked as a casual support worker in the Brighouse area, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder by a care worker.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said Buchanan had undergone training on safeguarding issues with vulnerable adults.

“He was aware that there should not have been contact, let alone sending of gifts,” Mr McGonigal told the court.

Buchanan, of Friar Place, Bradley, Huddersfield, did not have day to day care of the young woman but he befriended her.

His text messages included kisses and hearts and they arranged to meet up at the day care unit.

The court heard that Buchanan had anal sex with the woman in a disabled toilet after they both removed their clothing.

The woman’s mother became suspicious after her daughter brought gifts from Buchanan home. At first, she named another person but then said the presents were from Buchanan, telling her mother they had kissed and cuddled.

Buchanan was questioned by the police and said the young woman “told tall stories” and had “come on to him.”

He admitted he found her attractive and that he had bought her gifts.

Buchanan said the woman wanted to see him naked and had told him she wanted to marry him.

He admitted having sex with her, saying it was consensual and he thought she was able to consent.

A victim impact statement from the woman’s mother said her daughter now cried a lot and did not like leaving home.

The complainant herself said she had been left paranoid and insecure. She felt emotional every day and found it difficult to sleep.

Nick Askins, Buchanan’s barrister, said he had no previous convictions.

He had admitted the offence and was very remorseful.

“He deeply regrets his selfish action on this occasion,” Mr Askins said.

Buchanan had suffered a head injury in a road accident that might have affected his judgement.

He cared for his 89-year-old mother and the inevitable jail sentence would have an impact on her.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Buchanan’s victim had “a multiplicity of issues” that made her highly vulnerable.

He told the defendant: “You knew that those in your charge were people who could not protect themselves.”

Speaking of the 800 text messages exchanged between Buchanan and the woman, the judge told him: “There should not have been one.”

Judge Rose said Buchanan groomed his victim until she felt that he loved her.

“She was accessible as an object of your sexual interest,” he said.

“She may not have resisted your advances but that is because she was not cognitively equipped to do so.”

The judge made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told Buchanan he must sign on the sex offender register, both orders are without limit of time.

After the sentencing hearing, the officer in the case, Detective Sergeant Sam Baker, of Calderdale District Safeguarding, said: “Buchanan took advantage of the victim and subjected her to a horrific sexual assault.

“I would like to praise the victim for her courage in coming forward, and hopefully the sentence will provide her with some degree of comfort.”