THE former chairman of a Bicester diving club has been jailed for two years for having sex with a 15-year-old girl the day before she turned 16.

Steven Allport, 43, of Eden Close, Bicester, admitted engaging in sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual behaviour.

Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, said Allport started a relationship with the girl – who cannot be named for legal reasons – in 2011 when she was 15. He said the married father-of-two contacted her on Facebook and Skype, encouraging her to engage in sexual activity on webcam with him.

The barrister said Allport, who was chairman of Bicester Sub-Aqua Club and runs a data recovery business, eventually had sex with her on the day before her birthday.

Jonathan Woodcock, defending, said his client had developed a “loving, affectionate” relationship with the girl, but now accepted that it was wrong.

He said: “He is someone who has gone through life trying to do his best, but this happened at a point of crisis and weakness and vulnerability.”

Mr Woodcock said Allport’s wife was standing by him and had supported him throughout the court proceedings.

Passing sentence Judge Patrick Eccles told him: “The plain fact is you ended up taking advantage of a vulnerable young teenager for whom this was her first sexual relationship.”

He sentenced Allport to two years in jail and said he would remain on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.