A TEENAGER who repeatedly sexually abused a young girl, leaving her psychologically traumatised, will not have to register as a sex offender.

Beytullah Kahraman, 19, was himself a child when he molested his young victim when she was between the ages of nine and 14.

But because Kahraman would only serve a few weeks behind bars a judge ruled the public would be better served by him being on a community order.

And the sentence means the defendant, who was cleared of raping the girl by a jury earlier this year, does not have to register as a sex offender.

Kahraman, of Lennox Drive, Walcot, faced charges of rape and sexual activity with a child when he was on trial at Swindon Crown Court last month.

He was cleared of the more serious allegations but found guilty of sexual assault and sexual activity with a child, relating to him touching the girl's breasts.

The jury could no reach verdicts on similar charges where it was alleged he simulated sex with her, and those counts were left to lie on file.

All of the allegations were said to have taken place between 2005, when the defendant was himself just 10 years old, and 2011.

James Tucker, prosecuting, said the girl had been terrified to tell of what had happened and described feeling suicidal.

Alexa Power, defending, pointed out that although the offences he was convicted of took place when the girl was aged nine to 14, he was only ever a year older.

"These were offences committed when he was a child himself," she said.

Before the trial she said he was at college studying for a diploma in Health and Social Care.

But the convictions made it impossible for him to be able to get work that field so he had to drop out of the course.

She said: "Mr Kahraman would welcome probation supervision. It mat assist him in getting back in to college and starting again with his studies."

Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "You were convicted by the jury on the clearest possible evidence of two counts relating to multiple incidents of sexual assault on the young victim.

"The offences that you were convicted of physically were not the most serious of their type, but what is a serious matter here is the young age of your victim when you took advantage of her.

"I am not surprised to read of the confusion that she felt. She has had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence against you and in her young life she has had the pain and anxiety of what you did.

"Her position is in the forefront of my mind dealing with you today. That is probably the most serious aspect of what you did.

"Her anxiety and troubled mind all comes back to what you did and you alone are to blame for it. Do you understand me?

"I hope the fact that you have been convicted in a criminal court has brought home to you what happens if you committed any similar behaviour in any aspect of your life.

"I take the view, particularly in the light of the very strong recommendation that is made in the probation report, that you require intervention and supervision to drive home to you that this type of behaviour is unacceptable and not to be tolerated as a better way than sending you to a young offenders' institution for what would only, on the guidelines, be a couple of weeks."