23-year-old man in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Brenton Harris of Pembroke pleaded guilty to having unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl, whom he said was his girlfriend and had consented to intercourse.

Duty counsel Mr. Stephen Hankey told the court Harris planned to support his girlfriend, now 15, and their child. He added that while he had known having sex with girls under the age of 16 was illegal, he had thought it was okay because she was his girlfriend.

Prosecutor Sgt. Peter Giles said Police arrested Harris after receiving reports that the girl had engaged in sex with him in January 1991 and April 1992.

The Wor. John Judge said young girls sometimes needed to be protected from themselves: "They are far too immature to enter into these relationships.'' Mr. Judge fined Harris $300, telling him he had given him a discount because he was about to be a father.