A PENSIONER sexually abused a 14-year-old York girl - but she was the one who ended up with a conviction.

Colin Hagan, 67, was given a police caution for abusing the teenager. But when she then demanded hush money from him, she was prosecuted.

At York Youth Court yesterday, the girl was given a 12-month supervision order, after pleading guilty to blackmail.

The court heard that between August, 2005 and April, 2006, Mr Hagan, of North Lane, York, paid her nearly £2,000. The case eventually came to light when Mr Hagan informed police of what was going on.

Prosecutor Neil Holdsworth said the two parties' versions of events differed, but there was no dispute that there had been sexual contact and that the girl had subsequently demanded money from Mr Hagan.

Mr Holdsworth said: "Mr Hagan's account is that the contact was initiated by the girl offering him sexual services. He says he has suffered from impotence for several years, his marriage broke down and he took the opportunity to try to have sex. He said to police he was unable to do so, and gave the girl some money.

"She said he forced his unwelcome attentions on her and she then demanded money from him to keep that quiet.

"There are two different versions on motivation, but there is no dispute that the girl admits she has demanded money, rather than disclose those facts to other people."

The court heard Mr Hagan had taken painkillers to counter his distress at what had happened.

John Howard, for the defence, told the court: "In my respectful submission, Mr Hagan has been lucky in the extreme that police took the view that he should have been cautioned for sexual abuse of a girl who he knew to be 14 at the time."

He said this was not a regular blackmail case, saying: "This was not a case where a stranger was going to tell a lie - she was going to tell the truth and say what actually happened."

The girl said: "I wish it had never happened really. I wish I had gone to the police."

Bench chair Helen McBride said there would be no compensation, as it may exacerbate the situation. She warned the girl she would return to court and be punished differently if she breached the supervision order.