A RESPECTED Salvation Army figure was jailed for four years over sexual activity with an underage girl.

Anthony Huntington, who took advantage of the girl’s ‘crush’ on him, conducted a boyfriend/girlfriend-type relationship, committing the offences during trips to the baths, in his car after cinema outings and while giving her guitar lessons.

Durham Crown Court heard that it only came to light two decades later when the girl, who had seen Huntington as some sort of “father-figure”, discussed it with a relative and then confronted him on Facebook.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said Huntington, “more or less”, made full admissions, apologising and telling her he hoped he had not hurt her.

The court heard as a Salvationist, he was a Sergeant Major, who had helped to run a Sunday school.

Mr Dodds said in her impact statement, the victim said she was, “disgusted and angry” at what had taken place and felt he had taken advantage and, “interfered” with her, as a child.

Huntington, 55, of Northumberland Place, Peterlee, who has no previous convictions, admitted six counts of indecent assault.

Rod Hunt, mitigating, who handed several character references to the court, said: “Everyone who writes on his behalf is astounded and hurt that someone they look up to has this weakness and has caused harm.

“They can hardly believe it. They don’t condone him, but they would expect him to come clean about it, so as not to cause any more pain.

“He knows he should not have done what he did, even though it was consensual, and, as soon as he was confronted by the complainant, he admitted it.”

Jailing him, Recorder Timothy Roberts QC told Huntington his victim regarded him as her ‘boyfriend’.

“But, you knew how corrupting it was and you persisted in it, on several occasions.”

Huntington was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and registration as a sex offender indefinitely.