A Stowmarket man who groped a schoolgirl’s breasts has walked free from court after a judge decided not to send him straight to prison.

Steven Nunn touched the girl’s breasts over her clothing and also “snogged” her, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

John Livingstone, prosecuting, said the offences came to light in April while the girl was seeing a counsellor and the police were contacted.

He said the girl told police that Nunn would squeeze her breasts and comment on how big they were getting.

Nunn, 55, of Thomas Young Close, Stowmarket, admitted two offences of sexual activity with a child under 13 and one offence of sexual assault. He was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to attend a rehabilitation activity requirement for up to 50 days.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 prosecution costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

Sentencing him, Judge John Devaux said there was a degree of grooming by Nunn and an aggravating feature of the case was the large difference in their ages.

He said the touching was over the girl’s clothing. “You took a great risk in touching her in the way you did. It could have had very serious consequences,” he said.

Catherine Bradshaw, for Nunn, said her client had no previous convictions and was remorseful for what he had done. She said Nunn was a paint sprayer and had spoken to his employer about his court appearance.