A married man who groped a 13-year-old girl on the way to a pheasant shoot has been jailed by a judge at Worcester Crown Court.

Colin Finch stopped his car in a gateway, kissed the victim and squeezed her breast, said Susan Cliff, prosecuting. Finch was sacked from his job at a riding stables after he confessed to locals about his conviction.

Judge Alistair McCreath said: "I have a nagging worry that he has a latent sexual fantasy which he may carry out to the detriment of other children."

He told 33-year-old Finch, of Snead Common, Abberley, near Stourport, he had looked on the child as "a mere sexual object". She was at a delicate stage in her emotional development and may never fully get over the experience.

Finch, whose wife wept in the public gallery, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child. He was jailed for 12 months and must sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years. Mrs Cliff said the offence occurred on November 24 last year after the girl - who is not related to Finch - was allowed to take a day off school.

On the way to the shoot he made indecent comments to her before parking in the gateway. The victim told a friend what had happened.

Jonas Hankin, defending, said the father-of-one had a sexual fantasy "directed towards virginity rather than young girls" and had referred to adult women.

He was a well-liked family man, the captain of a local air rifle team and had made an error of judgement.

Mr Hankin added: "This was a very rare example of a moment of madness."