A PHARMACIST who sexually abused a schoolgirl who had a crush on him has been jailed for 30 months.Joseph Moffett allowed the teenager to indecently touch him while he was driving his car and indecently touched her when she visited his Trimley St Mary home, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A PHARMACIST who sexually abused a schoolgirl who had a crush on him has been jailed for 30 months.

Joseph Moffett allowed the teenager to indecently touch him while he was driving his car and indecently touched her when she visited his Trimley St Mary home, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Jailing Moffett, Judge John Devaux said he thought it unlikely that the defendant would be able to return to his profession on his release from prison.

He disqualified Moffett from working with children for life and ordered him to sign on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Referring to the offences the judge said: “It appears that she had a crush on you and you took advantage of it.”

Moffett, 51, of High Road, Trimley St Mary, admitted two offences of sexual activity with a child and one offence of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

David Wilson, prosecuting, said the offences came to light when the victim told a relative what had been going on.

“The offences caused a great deal of distress to her family and she reacted like she was losing her first love,” said Mr Wilson.

Russell Butcher, for Moffett, said the victim had a crush on him and had given him a key ring saying “I love you” on it.

He claimed that the girl had initiated what happened between them by kissing him, although this was not accepted by the prosecution.

He said his client realised he should not have let anything happen between him and the girl.

“He was flattered by the attention and he had genuine feelings for her,” said Mr Butcher.

He described what happened with the girl as “unfortunate and isolated” and said his client, who had no previous convictions, was unlikely to re-offend.