Derbyshire man jailed after abusing teenage girl with learning difficulties
Richard Underwood was caught when the girl's father discovered "very concerning" messages on her phone
A man from Derbyshire has been jailed for four years and three months after abusing a teenage girl with learning difficulties.
The abuse only came to light when the girl's father checked her phone, to find "very concerning" messages from Richard Underwood.
The 47-year-old from Upper Greenhill Gardens in Matlock was arrested after the father rang police.
He was charged in February and on Friday (May 3), admitted engaging in sexual activity with a child aged between 13 and 15 years old and was sentenced at Derby Crown Court.
Following his sentencing, the girl's mother said her daughter’s learning difficulties and her lack of social understanding, which made her unaware that what happened was wrong.
She also said her daughter has been struggling with her mental health and doesn’t know how to cope.
“As a parent, I can’t think about what Richard has done without feeling a range of emotions.
"This incident has massively impacted not only my daughter but also every aspect of us as a family, and we are still dealing with the consequences and ongoing impact of this incident.”