A MAN who got a 15-year-old girl in the care of social services pregnant has been freed from prison.

Worcester Crown Court heard that Jason Crofts had unprotected sex with a minor at his mother’s home near Tenbury Wells.

Care workers were unaware of the sexual relationship and even arranged trips so the pair could meet up.

But it ended with her pregnancy – and a text message from Crofts which called their relationship “a mistake”.

Crofts, aged 20, of Astley Orchard, Eastham, was jailed for six months last Wednesday after admitting to two specimen counts of sexual activity with a child.

But he was freed just 48 hours later, when Judge Alastair McCreath admitted his previous sentence was “unfair”.

Paul Whitfield, prosecuting, said Crofts was 18 when he met the girl in Tenbury Library in January 2009.

The minor was on a supervised day trip from her Shropshire care home, where she lived with relatives.

Mr Whitfield said the minor was driven to Crofts’ house on at least one occasion and became pregnant in March 2009.

“She was very excited about what had happened but didn’t want the defendant to have much to do with the raising of her child,” said Mr Whitfield.

“He sent her a text message saying she had ‘been a mistake’ and after that they never met.”

Simon Warlock, defending, claimed the girl lied about her age and said the relationship was consensual.

Judge McCreath questioned the wisdom of the local authority in Crofts’ original sentence of six months in detention.

But he reduced the sentence last Friday, because of the age difference and Crofts’ immaturity at the time. Crofts was given a six month detention, suspended for two years with a supervision requirement for the same period. He must also undertake 20 hours’ unpaid work and register as a sexual offender for seven years.