A taxi driver "groomed" a schoolgirl and molested her in his cab, a court heard.

Stephen Mayo, 40, was one of a number of drivers who collected the 15-year-old girl from her home in Shoreham and drove her 25 miles to a school for children with special educational needs.

Mayo, a father of one, admitted swapping mobile phone numbers with the girl and contacting her through an instant messaging service on his computer.

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After building up a relationship with the girl, on November 13, 2005, Mayo arranged a secret meeting. He picked her up in Buckingham Road, Shoreham, and drove her to Portslade.

Mayo kissed the girl and touched her over her clothes and she touched him through his clothes, before he drove her back to Buckingham Road.

On November 16 Mayo sent the girl three picture messages, one of his face and two intimate photos.

The prosecution said when interviewed about the pictures the girl said they were accompanied by a rude message.

Mayo denied sending the text message but admitted sending the pictures.

The girl told a teacher what had happened and social services and the police were informed.

Mayo, of St Michael's Road, Worthing, pleaded guilty to one charge of sexually grooming a minor and one charge of sexually touching a minor.

Nicola Palmer, defending, said Mayo's relationship with his wife had broken down as a result of his actions.

She also told the court Mayo had £30,000 debts and would be unable to pay a hefty fine.

Mayo, no longer a taxi driver, was put on a three-year supervision order, must attend a Thames Valley Police sex offenders rehabilitation programme, and will be on the sex offender's register for five years.

Judge John Sessions told him: "The picture messages give a clear indication of your intention the sexual activity you embarked on should go further.

You have denied this but your denials ring very hollow.

"These incidents have predictably led to the breakdown of your marriage and will no doubt give rise to continuing difficulties in relation to contact with your child."

He continued: "The public often view this kind of sentence as the soft option but, as you are about to find out, it is not.

"In my view, young girls will be better protected by you attending the course rather than giving you a custodial sentence and not addressing your attitudes."
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