A 14-YEAR-OLD girl ran away from home to live with a 21-year-old man, a court was told.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Luke Granger had pestered her to have sex - even turning up at her school.

Teesside Crown Court was told they had sex four times over a five-month period.

At one point, the girl ran away from home for a week and stayed at the house Mr Granger shared with his stepbrother.

Eventually, she was told she was three to four months pregnant, but a scan showed that the foetus was dead and was removed.

The court heard that a DNA test proved Mr Granger was the father and, while he initially denied having sex with the girl, he later admitted it, but said he thought she was 16.

"The fact is Mr Granger knew the girl was only 14 when their relationship began," Christine Egerton, prosecuting, told the jury.

Mr Granger, of Rudyard Avenue, Roseworth, Stockton, denies specimen charges of indecent assault and sexual activity with a child in April and May last year.

The case continues.