Man given suspended sentence for child sex offence

A man who engaged in sexual activity with a vulnerable 15-year-old girl in care has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Sheffield Crown Court heard the victim was living at a children's home in Rotherham when the offence took place some time between 12 October and 1 December in 2011.

Jacek Brzozowksi, now 35 and of Middle Avenue, Rawmarsh, admitted a charge of penetrative sexual activity with a child at the start of a trial.

On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years and carry out 40 hours of rehabilitation activities.

Judge Sarah Wright said she was satisfied there was a "reasonable prospect of rehabilitation" in light of his guilty plea and the fact that he had not offended since 2011.

The court heard the complainant had been exploited by men Brzozowksi was acquainted with.

Judge Wright said: "She willingly had sexual intercourse with you.

"The episode was short-lived as it was interrupted by another man who reacted in a violent manner when he saw the two of you together."

Brzozowksi had been on trial with co-defendants Romulad Stefan Houphouet, 37, and Absalom Sigiyo, 41.

Houphouet, of Burngreave, Sheffield, was jailed for 20 years and Sigiyo, 41, of Catcliffe in Rotherham, for 18-and-a-half years for the rapes and sexual abuse of two victims.

Judge Wright accepted Brzozowksi had "issues with functioning and understanding" and that his level of maturity at the time of the offence was "probably similar to that of the complainant".

Judge Wright said: "You have not re-offended in any way since this isolated incident.

"Unlike the others, this was not a pattern of repeated and sustained behaviour."

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