A VICAR began an affair with a 13-year-old schoolgirl who turned to him for help after being bullied at school.

Married Kevin Conway, 37, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after a court was told the girl's plea for support turned into a "boyfriend-girlfriend" relationship.

The girl had endured a bullying campaign which left her suffering depression and she went to Conway looking for a shoulder to cry on, Newcastle Crown Court was told

But Conway used his influence on her to begin a forbidden affair, which resulted in sex sessions in his car.

The court heard how the youngster and the father-of-three would regularly sneak off early from church meetings to have sex.

Their relationship was exposed when Conway contacted the police to report the youngster had been attacked by a group of the boys who had been bullying her.

When the pair's mobile phones were seized, numerous intimate text messages they sent each other were revealed.

Conway, of St Wilfrid's Church, Moorside, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to two specimen charges of indecent assault, one of indecency and three of having unlawful sexual intercourse.

But the court heard that despite Conway facing prison over their relationship, the girl told police: "I still love him and I want to be with him."

Julian Smith, prosecuting, said the girl gave full details of their relationship to the police.

Mr Smith said: "The first time they had sex was in his car at a beach near Seaham, in County Durham.

"She indicated she was a virgin prior to that and he knew that."

The court heard how the couple had been due to go on holiday to Butlin's, in Skegness, Lincolnshire, before the plan was foiled by police.

Defence barrister John Evans said Conway realised he had breached the trust of the girl, her family, and his wife and children.

"This was not a defendant who set out with sexual gratification as the end result," he said.

Conway has been suspended by the church and faces disciplinary proceedings under ecclesiastical law, with the likely result that his licence will be revoked.

Judge Maurice Carr said it was a tragic case but that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

After the case, Conway's solicitor Geoffrey Lockerbie said: "He wishes to express regret for the hurt and pain caused not only to the girl and her family, but also to his own family and the Church.

"He accepts total responsibility for his actions and under no circumstances should any blame be attached to the girl."