“You Should Be Disgusted with Yourself”: Man Avoids Jail After Getting Underage Girl Pregnant
A man who got a 14-year-old girl pregnant amid a significant age gap has avoided jail time, with a judge telling him he should be “disgusted” with himself. Jason Singh, 23, previously of Tyseley and now of Warner Street, Derby, admitted to breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) twice, but his compliance with a deferred sentence spared him from immediate imprisonment.
At Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, September 2, Singh was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, which includes 60 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation activities. Singh initially met the girl on Facebook, where she claimed to be 16 years old. However, she later revealed her true age, 14, while Singh was 21 at the time.
The court heard that Singh had been issued a child abduction notice, which prohibited him from contacting the girl. This was followed by a SHPO from Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, which Singh later breached by engaging in sexual activity with the minor, told Birmingham Mail.
Judge Dean Kershaw, while sentencing, remarked, “This is not a case of it being non-consensual. But this was a child, people of that age don’t know what full consent is.” He added that despite the seemingly small difference in years between them, the age gap was “huge” in terms of maturity and understanding.
Addressing Singh directly, Judge Kershaw said, “Jason Singh, the age gap between you and [the girl] may not in terms of the number of years seem that many, but it’s huge. I’m not satisfied, from what I have read, you truly believe how serious this situation is. Someone your age, 21 at the time, who has got a 14/15-year-old girl pregnant is utterly disgraceful. Your family should be disgusted with you, and in my view, you should be disgusted with yourself.”
The judge further criticized Singh’s actions, stating that he effectively “groomed” the young girl, who lacked the capacity to fully understand the situation as someone older might. However, he acknowledged that Singh had complied with the terms of his deferred sentence by staying away from the girl and had shown signs of leading a more responsible life, holding a job and abiding by court orders.
The five-year SHPO, which was put in place in 2023, remains in effect until 2028. It prohibits Singh from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16. Despite the seriousness of the offense, Singh’s adherence to the conditions of the deferred sentence helped him avoid jail, although the judge made it clear that his actions were reprehensible.