A MAN who had sex with a 12-year old girl has been locked up indefinitely for the protection of the public.

A MAN who had sex with a 12-year old girl has been locked up indefinitely for the protection of the public.

Darren Cox was 23 when he became friendly with the schoolgirl and made sexual advances to her while he was at her house, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting, said Cox had removed his clothing and that of the girl and had started having sex with her before she pushed him away.

He had later put his hand down the girl's trousers and touched her indecently, said Mr Sadd.

Cox, now 25, of Cats Lane, Sudbury admitted two offences of sexual activity with a child.

Passing an indefinite jail sentence for public protection, Judge John Devaux said Cox would have to serve 15 months less 101 days he has spent in custody before he could be considered for release by the parole board.

He would only then be released when it was no longer considered necessary to keep him in custody for the protection of the public.

Judge Devaux also ordered Cox to sign on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and banned him from working with children indefinitely.

The judge also made a sexual offences prevention order restricting Cox's contact with girls under 16 on his release from prison.

The court heard that after his arrest Cox said he thought he and the girl were boyfriend and girlfriend.

Christopher Morgan, for Cox, said his client only had an IQ of 65 and felt comfortable with people of the same developmental age as him which was around 13-16.