A shop worker who groomed a 15-year-old schoolgirl for sex has been jailed for 18 months.

Paul Clarke sent his victim up to 20 messages a day by e-mail and text messages, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The three-week bombardment ended in a meeting near the girl's home but she thwarted Clarke by bringing a friend to the rendezvous and refusing to get into his car.

A jury convicted Clarke, aged 39, of Selborne Road, Barbourne, Worcester, of meeting a child after sexual grooming two months ago.

The defendant still denied his guilt but Judge Andrew Geddes told him: "Whatever you may say, it was to have some sort of sexual contact with the girl."

The judge heard from prosecutor Michael Aspinall that Clarke had been accused of rape and indecent assault in 2005 but he had been cleared.

While living in a bail hostel in Worcester, he was said to have become friendly with a sex offender who had 25 offences against children on his record.

The judge passed a 10-year sexual offences prevention order forbidding any association with the man.

Clarke was also disqualified with working with children under 16 for life. He must also sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

During a three-day trial, the jury heard how Clarke bought the Redditch teenager an £11 bracelet and told her she meant the world to him.

The father-of-two, who worked for a DIY chain in Worcester at the time, promised to be the girl's "soul-mate" and warned her to keep their liaison secret.

But her suspicious parents saw her e-mails and alerted police.

The girl told officers that Clarke made her feel good about herself and helped her to cope with school bullies.

Mr Aspinall said a victim impact statement showed the girl had lost her self confidence and her trust in others since the offence.

Richard Bond, defending, said Clarke never hid his identity or age and his partner was aware of his text messages.

She was standing by him and had visited him in jail while he was awaiting sentence.

Mr Bond said immature Clarke never got out of his car or attempted to pull the teenager into it.

He added: "This is an unpleasant offence but comes at the lower end of the scale of seriousness."