A KIDDERMINSTER man who sparked a nationwide police hunt after he disappeared with a schoolgirl lover has been jailed for nine months.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Ian Jamie Scott was away for nearly a fortnight with the 15-year-old and stayed at boarding houses in Weston-super-Mare, Torquay, Newquay and Rhyl.

It was at the Welsh seaside resort that the couple had sex on numerous occasions, said Nigel Stelling, prosecuting.

Scott, 30, of Exeter Close, Habberley, pleaded guilty to two specimen charges of unlawful sexual intercourse. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Judge John Cavell said that although the girl had gone willingly, the whole purpose of the law was to protect girls under the age of 16 from themselves. Scott was mature enough to realise the seriousness of his actions.

The girl's parents were in the public gallery for the case. Afterwards, her father said he was pleased with the sentence. "Justice has been served," he said. "My daughter can now carry on with her life. This sentence should put out a message to people who act in this way."

Scott and the girl first had a relationship when she was 14, said Mr Stelling. But she broke it off when he became possessive and objected to her having boyfriends of her own age.

Their relationship resumed in April last year when she complained of problems at home and said she wanted to get away.

The pair went missing in June and there was national publicity about her disappearance.

On their return to Kidderminster, Scott was arrested and the girl was put in the care of Social Services for a fortnight.

He first denied there had been sex and said he had taken her away for her own well-being because of problems at home.

Ben Mills, defending, said it was not a case where the girl had been persuaded to leave home. She went away for her benefit and Scott had made an immature misjudgement. She had been a willing participant in sex with a man she loved.

Scott had a three-year-old son and was due to become a father again in January. He had been punished by the stigma of the case in a community which knew the details.

Mr Mills submitted testimonials from a town councillor, an employer, friends and a 78-year-old woman. Normally, Scott was trustworthy, hard-working, kind and conscientious.