A Wirral man who indecently assaulted a teenage girl is today starting a four-year jail sentence.

Anthony Clayton claimed that the victim had been sexually overt with him - but a judge told him she did not accept that.

“You had the gift to shut it down and you chose not to,” said Judge Elizabeth Nicholls.

She also pointed out that he had been aware of the girl's vulnerability and described the victim’s impact statement as “haunting.”

Clayton, 48, of Gaywood Close, Birkenhead, had pleaded guilty to six offences of sexual activity and four of indecency with a child

He also admitted taking an indecent video.

Liverpool Crown Court was told that Clayton started sexually assaulting the victim when she was 16.

Eventually she confided in a friend who encouraged her to tell the police.

In an impact statement the victim told how she had suffered sleeping problems and was finding it difficult to form relationships.

Clayton was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed for seven years.

The judge also imposed a five-year restraining order to keep away from his victim.