"Man Jailed for Impregnating 15-Year-Old After Cops Discover Her Hidden in a Cupboard, He Claims 'Stupid Immaturity'"

A PAEDOPHILE whose 15-year-old pregnant victim was found by police hiding in a cupboard at his home has been jailed.

Ronan Cambridge, who was 25 at the time, told the officers who arrested him he believed the girl was 17.

They gave him the “benefit of the doubt” but the court heard that he continued to message, meet up and engage in sexual activity with her, despite being told of her real age when he was bailed.

On one occasion, he even told the youngster he needed to bathe in case wanted to take swabs, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

It was also discovered that the refuse collector was the father of her unborn child.

Cambridge, of Palm Drive, Rochester, later pleaded guilty to meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child, and making indecent images of a child.

At his sentencing hearing on Monday (August 3), prosecutor Daisy Kell-Jones said Cambridge, now 26, was first arrested after police found the girl hiding at his home, having been reported missing.

“He said he thought she was 17 and, with there seeming to be an element of truth to that, he was given the benefit of doubt,” said the prosecutor.

“But he was clearly told she was 15 and was bailed with a condition not to contact her.”

The relationship persisted unabated, however, with “hundreds, if not thousands” of messages exchanged between them across “all sorts” of social media platforms, added Ms Kell-Jones.

They also continued to engage in sexual activity and, on one occasion, he told the girl “I know you’re 15, but there is something different about you”.

The prosecutor told the court that Cambridge’s messaging demonstrated “an awareness of the illegality” of what was going on.

“He talks about needing to get a bath as he has a feeling police will want to take DNA swabs again,” she explained.

Cambridge who has no previous convictions, was re-arrested a month later and, despite lying about having no contact with the girl, denying making her pregnant, and refuting giving her an engagement ring, he was again bailed with the same condition of no contact.

Still, Cambridge continued messaging the girl, “telling her he loves her and wants to be there for her” said Ms Kell-Jones.

It was in September last year, notwithstanding his attempts to flee officers by jumping out of a second floor window, that he was apprehended for a third and final time.

On being detained, he said: “I’m trying to save myself because I’m on f***ing bail.”

His phone, found under a mattress in his bedroom, was seized and analysed. Among photos of the girl was a video montage of him kissing her, as well as one of her performing oral sex.

When interviewed, he accepted the footage had been created while he was on bail.

Harriet Snookes, defending, told the court Cambridge had been told “from the outset” the girl was 17 and shown a birth certificate in support.

But she said he blamed his “stupid immaturity” for maintaining contact once he knew her to be underage.

“He accepts the relationship continued and it shouldn’t have,” she added. “He says this was a stupid error of judgement and knows he shouldn’t have remained in contact with her.

Cambridge, who has been on remand for 11 months, was told by the judge, Recorder Cairns Nelson KC, that he repeatedly “went right through that red light” of knowing her true age and being bailed with a non-contact condition.

“I have to deal with you for your conduct against a 15-year-old child over a three-month period last year,” said Recorder Nelson.

“This wasn’t a one-off lapse of judgement by an immature person. This was a deliberate, sustained, knowing breach of the .”

Cambridge was jailed for a total of four years and 10 months, of which he will serve two-thirds, less time already spent in custody.

He was also made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements.