?The sex act, unless it?s abusive, is usually enjoyable.?

Nonetheless, Mr. Scott acknowledged that he had been ?pig headed? in court and that it was correct in this case that his client was put behind bars.

Det. Sgt. Mark Clarke, head of the Juvenile and Domestic Crime Unit which investigated the case, said: ?If the comments attributed to Mr. Scott are true, it is a disappointment that they were made. Let?s not look at the issue of whether this was pleasurable, but whether it was predatory. No adult should be looking at this young lady in a sexual way. At 14, she cannot be held responsible for having an adult paying attention to her.

?The law of the land was put in place to protect vulnerable persons ? in this case a young female child ? and this clearly falls into the realm of child sex abuse. I?m not going to get into a banter with Mr. Scott over this unfortunate comment, but in any other society this defendant would be considered to be a paedophile.

?It is not age-appropriate for a grown adult to be looking at a child like this, and let no one forget she?s a child. In the UK, Canada, and the USA, the man would fit the legal definition of a paedophile.?

And Michelle Wade, Director of Teen Services which helps young mothers, said: ?I?m shocked that Mr. Scott would say this. A 14-year-old girl is still going through her development, a time of growth into womanhood. She?s probably very vulnerable.

?Sex is supposed to be pleasurable but it?s got to be put in context. At 14 years old it might be pleasurable, but think of the repercussions.?

Ms Wade said that the decision to have an abortion at such a young age is likely to have a lasting impact on the rest of the youngster?s life, and that in her own view the age of consent should remain where it is.