A PRISON officer has lost his job after admitting having sex with an under age girl more than 30 years ago.

David Edwards was suspended from his job at Channings Wood Prison near Newton Abbot after being arrested for assaulting a girl in fields at Brixham in 1985.

Edwards took the 15-year-old girl’s virginity after persuading her to leave a function at a nearby holiday park and have sex with him.

He was aged 21 at the time and was cheating on his wife-to-be just days before his wedding, Exeter Crown Court was told.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of rape but the charge was dropped after the victim accepted he may have thought she consented.

Edwards, aged 52, of Waterleat Avenue, Paignton, admitted indecent assault and was jailed for six months, suspended for a year by Recorder Mr Philip Mott, QC.

He told him: ’There was a limited age difference, although it was significant enough. She was within two months of the age of consent at the time and accepts you may have thought from her behaviour and drinking she was sexually experienced, when she was not.

’Since this occurred you have led a blameless life and a very positive career which you lost as a consequence. You have had to deal with family and friends and the public.

’This has caused you distress and resulted in depression for which you are taking medication, so your life has changed dramatically.’

Mr Joss Ticehurst, prosecuting, said Edwards had sex with the girl after meeting her by chance at an event at the St Mary’s Holiday camp in Brixham in late 1985.

They had sex in a nearby field and she went home with blood on her trousers. She did not complain at the time but was haunted by memories and went to the police after a chance meeting with Edwards last year.

She told police she thought the incident happened on the night before Edwards’ first wedding in October 2015 but he told police it was two months earlier.

Miss Mary McCarthy, mitigating, said Edwards had always accepted having consensual sex and admitted this offence at the first opportunity.

She said he had worked as a probation officer and prison officer and has already been punished by losing his job and being shunned by friends with whom he used to sail and go fishing.

She said: ’This has had an impact of his working life and on him personally. Not only has he lost his career but has had to face up to his first wife as to his disgraceful conduct in being unfaithful when they were engaged to be married. It is a matter of great shame.’

She said Edwards later divorced and remarried and both wife and former wife had come to court to support him.