Co Down man to be sentenced for having sex with underage girl

During a two-week trial held at Belfast Crown Court, 28-year old Andrew Williamson, from Ashgrove Avenue in Banbridge, faced a total of eight charges linked to allegations that he conducted a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old when he was aged 24.

Williamson was tried by a jury of six men and six women of one count of sexual activity by an adult with a child, and seven counts of sexual activity including penetration with a child, over a period spanning from August 2011 to February 2013.

After deliberating for over six hours, the forewoman of the jury delivered the verdict - acquitting Williamson of seven of the counts but finding him guilty by a majority of 11 to one on one of the charges of sexual activity including penetration with a child.

Throughout the trial, Williamson always made the case that whilst he knew the teenage girl, he wasn’t involved sexually with her. He also branded her claims that they were in a relationship as lies.

Whilst the jury cleared him of a majority of the charges, they found him guilty of having sex with her at a house in Banbridge when she was 15, in February 2013.

Judge Stephen Fowler informed Williamson that in light of the guilty plea, he would have to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register, adding “the length of time will be detemined by the sentence imposed in this case”.

Williamson will be sentenced on March 4.