THE schoolgirl diaries of a radio broadcaster jailed a man who had sex with her yesterday.

Married David Wheeler had a year-long sex affair with the woman when she was just 14.

He confessed everything to her parents after her father found a letter from him and warned him off - but did not go to the police.

Instead, the father-of-two, from Darlington, continued the affair in his car until she ended it at the age of 15.

But years later, haunted by the experience, she went to police and Wheeler, 58, still had the diaries recounting her experiences which she gave him for safe keeping, a court was told.

He described himself to police as an "old romantic", but the judge dismissed it, saying he deliberately groomed the girl for sex.

Jamie Hill, prosecuting, said that the broadcaster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was shocked and not in control of the situation.

He told Teesside Crown Court that, within a matter of weeks of the first indecent assault, Wheeler had had sex with the young teenager. Years later she told a friend, sought counselling and Wheeler was arrested. He made admissions to a large part.

Nigel Soppitt, mitigating, said: "Essentially, he believes he was suffering what is often termed a mid-life crisis.

"He described himself as an old romantic. But still believes that he fell in love with this 14-year-old girl many years ago. I can't say anything to deflect the criticism that this should not have taken place."

But Judge Les Spittle told him: "I have read these papers very thoroughly. This case has all the hallmarks of an older man flattering a young girl, creating a situation where he has led her to believe that she is something special to him, and progressing to indecent behaviour, very much all the hallmarks of grooming.

"He has described himself as an old romantic.

"But there will be many in society who will describe him as a pervert."

Wheeler, of Farndale Crescent, was jailed for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to four specimen charges of indecent assault.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years.