A MAN who had a relationship with a schoolgirl was spared prison yesterday after the court heard both had lied about their age.

She claimed to be 15 and even doctored her birth certificate, although she was a year younger. Her boyfriend, Ian Dolan, claimed to be 20, but was in fact 34.

The schoolgirl later admitted to a teacher they had sex in his car while parked on an industrial estate.

Dolan admitted to police about having a relationship with the girl, but he denied that they had sexual intercourse.

Judge Michael Taylor said: "Whatever the facts of this, there was a willingness on the part of the girl to participate in something with this man."

Peter Sabiston, defending, told Teesside Crown Court Dolan accepted he was extremely foolish to embark on the relationship after they met in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

He said: "He closed his mind to what was becoming ever more obvious, that she was below the age of consent. Once he was fully aware of her age, he broke the relationship off."

The scandal cost Dolan his job with his family's business, said Mr Sabiston.

Dolan, now 35, of Skirlaw Road, Newton Aycliffe, was given a two-year conditional discharge after he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting the girl between March and May last year. A charge of unlawful sexual intercourse, which he denied, was left on the court file.

The judge said: "You were being deceitful about your age to her and she was being deceitful about her age. It will be difficult to know exactly what went on between you.

"I suspect you have learned your lesson and there is no benefit to the public in locking you up. If you get involved in anything like this again, you will go straight to prison."