TWO men took part in inappropriate explicit text messaging with a 14-year-old girl and one went on to have a sexual relationship with her, a court heard.

Friends Christian Selkirk and Daniel Cochrane would both have known the girl was underage during the few months they were in communication, the prosecution allege at Durham Crown Court.

But both “relationships” came to an end after her mother became aware of the messages and police were informed.

Selkirk, 23, of St Cuthbert’s Avenue, Chester-le-Street, denies two counts of sexual activity with a child and 36-year-old Cochrane, of Corsair, in Whickham, Gateshead, denies causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Julie Clemitson, prosecuting, said both were introduced to the girl through mutual acquaintances and became Facebook ‘friends’.

Miss Clemitson told the court that it moved on to text messaging and then to a “face to face relationship” with Mr Selkirk, which included them having sex at various locations, including in his car, at beauty spots and at his home.

Giving evidence, the girl said they had sex, “two or three times a week”, over a two-month period.

“He knew how old I was. He would take me to school when I was in my uniform and I told him when my 15th birthday was coming up.

“Christian has always known my age.”

She said he even bought her a pregnancy testing kit when she missed a period amid fears that their relationship would become common knowledge if she became pregnant.

The court heard that Mr Selkirk told her he would “go to jail”, or, would, “even be dead if your dad finds out”.

Miss Clemitson said the girl exchanged increasingly explicit text messages with Mr Cochrane, culminating in them arranging to meet.

Asked by Miss Clemitson about the rendezvous, the girl said they met in his car at an industrial estate and she expected to have sex, but they only kissed.

“Dan said he didn’t want it to happen because I was too young,” the girl told the court.

Miss Clemitson told the jury the girl was, “encouraging, enthusiastic and initiating the conduct.”

But she said: “The prosecution would say they did not reasonably believe she was 16 or over.

“They may well have turned a blind eye to it.”

The trial continues.