A PIZZA shop owner who was giving a 16-year-old girl a lift stopped his car and committed a sexual offence on her, a court heard.

Emrah Guney, who runs Godfather Pizza, in Seaham, pinned the girl down in her seat, before pulling her top up and committing the offence, Durham Crown Court was told.

Guney, 33, of Blandford Place, Seaham, was giving the teenager, who was known to him, a lift in the early hours of September 24, last year.

He stopped his car, unbuckled her seatbelt and told her to "relax", Amanda Rippon, prosecuting, said.

Guney tried to kiss the girl and bit her top lip.

She said she needed to go home to her boyfriend, but he pulled up her T-shirt and bra and molested her.

"She tried to get out. She was very scared," Miss Rippon said.

Guney eventually stopped and dropped the girl off at her home.

"She was distraught and tearful and crying for her mother," Miss Rippon said.

When arrested, Guney denied any inappropriate contact with the girl, even after traces of his saliva were found on her bra.

The girl suffered bruised ribs and had pains for two months after the incident.

She became scared to go out in Seaham, fearing she would meet Guney, the court heard.

Ian Bradshaw, for Guney, said: "He's been here for five or six years. There's a cultural divide here that he is yet to span. In Turkey, such matters are not openly discussed.

"Having come to these shores with very little, he has worked hard and done quite well."

Guney, who was already the subject of a protection order, pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual touching without consent.

Judge Peter Bowers sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

Guney, who will remain on the sexual offenders' register for ten years, slumped onto the desk in front of him on hearing his sentence, struggling with court officers before being taken into custody.