A social inquiry report was yesterday ordered in Magistrates' Court after a 25-year-old Pembroke man admitted unlawful carnal knowledge of a teenager.

Sgt. Earl Kirby prosecuting, told the court the man committed the offence between December 1, 1992 and June 1, 1993, after meeting the girl through a family member. The charge said the girl was over the age of 14 but under the age of 16.

"They started seeing each other in December 1992 and were obviously having sexual intercourse because she became pregnant and gave birth to a child,'' Sgt. Kirby told the court.

"The young lady told her mother she was pregnant and the man admitted they had unprotected sex.'' The man's lawyer, Mr. Peter Farge, said the relationship had been encouraged by the girl's mother who had allowed the couple to live in the same bedroom.

"When she got pregnant, the mother went along with the couple for the pregnancy test,'' he said.

"He has been looking after her and plans for a lifetime relationship.'' However, Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl Ann Mapp questioned the girl's ability to make a decision to have a child when at the time she was only 15.

She swept aside suggestions from Mr. Farge that the man had assumed full responsibility for the child.

"I am very disturbed by some of the things I am hearing,'' Mrs. Mapp said.

"I find it difficult to understand how a relationship between a 15-year-old and a 24-year-old could be encouraged.

"This is a very prevalent offence but that does not make it right. The court must take a strong stand to discourage this type of relationship. There are laws in place to protect children.'' Mrs. Mapp told the man that being the father of the child could not be used to lighten his sentence.

"You will not be treated any harsher or given any more leniency,'' she said, before adjourning the case for a social inquiry report until March 11.