Bus driver from Greenock who got 13 year old pregnant jailed
Harpreet Padda, who is in the UK illegally, described by judge as showing "depravity and wickedness."
A bus driver who got a 13 year-old girl pregnant – while his wife was also expecting their child – has been jailed for jailed for seven and a half years.
Harpreet Padda had sex with the youngster at a house in Greenock in July 2014.
The teenager went on to give birth before Padda's wife also had a child.
At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Beckett told Padda that he had committed “a despicable crime'' which showed “depravity and wickedness.”
Lord Beckett added: “The public must be protected. The child in this case is extremely vulnerable.
“You deprived her of a normal childhood.”
It was only after a police probe that the 39-year-old was found to be the father of the girl's baby.
Indian-born Padda, who is in the UK illegally - pled guilty to a charge of having sex with an older child.
The court heard that bus driver Padda knew the girl and her family.
The teenager was described as “vulnerable”, but appeared to get on well with Padda.
Prosecutor Angela Gray told how the girl's mum took her to the GP in February last year as she was being sick constantly.
It was discovered the child was 30 weeks pregnant – but the young mum-to-be did not say who the father was.
The girl went on to give birth and Padda's wife meantime had a child a short time later.
The girl's mum initially thought a boy from the Highlands her daughter had been chatting to online could be the father.
But, he was quickly ruled out and police then stepped in to find who the dad was.
In late June 2015, Padda gave a DNA sample.
However, Miss Gray told the court: “A few days after – but before the result of the paternity test – Padda told family in Greenock he was leaving for India.
“He claimed that his mother was ill. The test subsequently confirmed Padda was the father of the baby.”
In July last year. Padda flew back to the UK from India and was taken off the plane at Heathrow Airport by police.
The girl later revealed Padda had sex with her once. She was said to be “very distressed” during the police interview.
Padda made no comment when he was quizzed by officers.
He had initially faced a rape allegation, but prosecutors accepted his guilty plea to the reduced charge.
Defence counsel Tony Graham said: “There are certain crimes which come before the court for which little mitigation can offered.
“What I can say it that having gone to India and being informed of police interest in him by family he returned and pled guilty to the charge. He was reconciled to his wrongdoing.
“The policy of the Border Agency will be to deport him to India at some stage during his sentence.”