AN army cadet volunteer who twice had sex with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for five years.

Carl Larkin, aged 44, of Falmouth Place, Murdishaw, Runcorn, slept with the girl after being entrusted with her care while her parents were on honeymoon.

Jailing him, Judge Adrian Lyon said: “It has to be a sentence of imprisonment, the offence is a serious one.

“Sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl on two occasions in circumstances where you were in a position of trust.

“There was a substantial age difference and it was a clear breach of trust.”

Judge Lyon ordered Larkin to sign the Sex Offender Register for life and said it was essential he was never allowed to work with children again.

He added: “It is clear you shouldn’t be allowed to work with children in the future, that is impossible, bearing in mind your contact with the cadet force.”

Larkin showed no emotion as he was jailed on Friday.

He has always maintained his innocence and consequently his victim had to give evidence in court.

But a Liverpool Crown Court jury rejected his denials and found him guilty on two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Peter Davies, prosecuting, said the girl had been entrusted into Larkin’s care in April 2008 while her relatives were away.

He abused her trust and manipulated her on two separate occasions.

The girl did not initially reveal what had happened but later blurted it out at school and described to a teacher what had taken place.

Mr Davies said: “Although the defendant doesn’t work with children, he is associated with minors bearing in mind his work with the army cadets.

“I understand he has now been suspended.”

David Ackerley, defending, said: “He still protests his innocence in this matter.” H He said that Larkin’s jail sentence would have “dire consequences” on his family, adding that his client had done a large amount of charity work.

Mr Ackerley said: “There is another side to Mr Larkin, a side that others have seen that paints a totally different picture of him.”

A letter sent from a senior figure at the army cadets showed the esteem he had been held in prior to this incident, he said.