A MAN who made a 12-year-old girl sign a sexual “ownership agreement” with him has been jailed for three years.

Although the document generally forbade the girl to engage in sexual activity, its “Rule Three” allowed her to carry out sexual acts with Steven John Lomas or on herself, said David Bradshaw, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

Some time later, while they were alone together, Lomas sexually assaulted the girl, said Mr Bradshaw. Lomas, 38, of Barker Drive in Selby, pleaded guilty to inciting a girl under 13 to perform sexual actions and to sexual assault.

The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, called it a “bizarre” document and told Lomas: “It is perfectly obvious until you receive treatment, you will be a risk to children.”

Lomas had been in a position of trust when he abused the child.

In addition to the three-year jail term, Lomas was put on the sex offenders’ register for life, and made subject to a sexual offences prevention order banning him from living in the same house as girls under 16 or being with them unsupervised. He was also disqualified from working with children.

Mr Bradshaw said Lomas was with the girl when the abuse occurred and that the document banned her from smoking and drinking.

For Lomas, Stephen Grattage said he was not attracted sexually to 12-year-old girls generally, but he was attracted to this one.

At the time, he had been going through a difficult period of his life and had lost his job. He was not thinking properly, the court was told.

“He now accepts it was completely wrong and he does want to be assisted in understanding more,” said Mr Grattage.

The girl had treated the ownership agreement in a “light-hearted” way, Mr Grattage alleged, but it had become serious when she signed. Lomas had ceased the abuse before the girl told an adult at school what had happened.