A MAN who began a relationship with a young girl has been spared jail after a judge said he could take an “exceptional course” in his case.

Terry Gibson, 19, swapped Facebook messages with the victim and kissed the girl on the neck and lips.

Teesside Crown Court heard that after one of her friends warned him off, he threatened: “If you tell anyone I will burn your house down and you will be six foot under.”

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds said that the defendant told another young girl that he would take her virginity.

His victim in a statement said she felt pressurised by Gibson.

She said: “He knew it was wrong. He told me if anybody found out we were boyfriend and girlfriend he could go to jail.”

Adrian Dent, for Gibson, of Crescent Road, Middlesbrough, said: “He meant no harm and would not have taken matters any further.”

Mr Dent said Gibson, who admitted three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and a public order offence in June, suffered from epileptic fits and also had low self-esteem.

The barrister successfully argued that Gibson should not go to jail immediately.

Judge Simon Phillips said: “This was exploitative behaviour against a young girl who was not in a position to resist what you were doing.”

The judge, who read from a probation report which said Gibson had problems with alcohol and his mental health, gave him a 15 month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also made subject to a five year long restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order of the same length and he will have to notify police of his details as a sex offender for the next ten years.