A BURY Army Cadet sergeant has been jailed after sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Martin Henderson, aged 27, of Margaret Street has been jailed after pleading guilty to sexual assault and grooming and was sentenced to one year and eight months at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, today.

He has also received a sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Henderson met the teenager in the summer of 2016 and started to message her on Snapchat and via text.

Within weeks the messages had escalated and Henderson told the girl he loved her.

He then asked to meet the girl on a street near her home, where he sexually assaulted her.

Following a disclosure made to police, Henderson was arrested on July 6, 2016 in Radcliffe and officers seized his phone and laptop.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Lindsey Worrall of GMP’s Child Sexual Exploitation Team, said: “Henderson’s sickening behaviour is every parent’s worst nightmare, spending weeks messaging a teenager and gaining her trust just so he could take advantage of her.

“The teenager has shown immense bravery in coming forward and she should feel proud that her disclosure has helped to secure the sentence Henderson will now serve behind bars.

“The exploitation of children is absolutely unacceptable and our team of specialists in this field work tirelessly to show those who do, that this behaviour will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.”

GMP also urged people to visit www.itsnotokay.co.uk for information for on how to spot the signs of child sexual exploitation.