A TEENAGE sex offender who went on the run while police were investigating allegations against him has walked free from court.

Richey Afonso, who had sex with a 14-year-old girl as her father slept, was spared jail after a judge heard he was sorry and had brought great shame on his Goan family.

But the 19-year-old, who used to work in McDonalds and Primark, will now have to register as a sex offender for the next five years.

Afonso skipped bail in May, having been arrested on suspicion of rape, causing the police to launch an appeal to trace him.

However when he was found he was only charged with two counts of sexual activity with a child, after it was discovered the girl had consented to what took place.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court: “A 14-year-old girl alleged that she had been forced to have intercourse with the defendant.

“He was arrested and said in interview that this was in fact consensual. He had been having Facebook contact with her.

“He had been invited to the house that particular time while her father was asleep. There is some suggestion that the complainant’s sister played look-out.”

Miss Marlow said when the logs from the social network site were examined they showed that the meeting, in February, had been arranged.

And it was also found that the girl was under the impression she was in a relationship with Afonso, despite her age, and that she loved him.

She said that the matter came to light because she told her boyfriend she had been forced to have sex with the defendant and it then ‘came to the notice of the police’.

Afonso, of Medgbury Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Kuljeet Dobe, defending, said his client had been a good, hard-working student when he was at school and held down the two jobs.

“As a result of this case and the fact that he fled he has lost his jobs at both places. Both places have refused to have him back,” he said.

“It has also got out so the local community knows about it so there is a lot of shame on his family.”

Judge Tim Mousley QC said: “I have to sentence you today for two offences of sexual activity with a child, both of them occurring during the same incident.

“This is an unusual case of its type. Of course girls of this age have to be protected from this type of behaviour. They sometimes don’t appreciate that but they have to be protected.

“That is why this type of offence is often dealt with by a prison sentence, albeit immediate or suspended. You have heard me say I am going to suspend it.

“There was a difference in age between the two of you but that was not as significant as is often the case in matters like this that often come before the court.

“You are a young man. You are remorseful for what you have done. You have brought enormous shame on your family.”

He imposed a six month jail term suspended for 18 months and told him to complete a Thames Valley sex offender programme.