A young man who admitted having sex with an underage girl has been given a suspended sentence by the Supreme Court.

Daquan Burgess, 21, pleaded guilty to a single count of having unlawful carnal knowledge with a girl in June of 2014.

The girl was 13 at the time of the offence, but the court heard Burgess had been given no indication that she was underage at the time.

The offence came to light after the teenager’s parents discovered that she was not in bed.

After searching the family’s Pembroke home and the neighbourhood without finding her, the police were called. The girl returned home at about 4am the next day and, when confronted by her mother, said she was with Burgess.

She later told police that he had picked her up at a park and took her to his Warwick home, where they watched television and had sex before he drove her back to Pembroke.

Burgess told the court he was ashamed and embarrassed by what happened, apologising to the girl and her family.

“I never want to be in this situation again,” he said. “I have learnt a serious lesson.”

Defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher suggested that a conditional discharge would be appropriate, saying Burgess was extremely remorseful, had no prior convictions and was honestly unaware that the girl was below the age of consent.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons noted Burgess’s remorse and early admission of guilt, saying that his actions after the incident had demonstrated his contrition.

Given all of the circumstances, she sentenced Burgess to six months’ imprisonment, but suspended that term for one year.

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