A teenager was facing jail after admitting indecently assaulting a young girl with special needs.

At Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday, Richard Margam, 19, of Queen Street, Sible Hedingham, admitted two charges of forcing the girl to partake in sexual acts.

The victim, who cannot be named by an order of the court, was described as "vulnerable" and goes to a special needs school.

Donald Oates, prosecuting, claimed she was also "forgetful" and that her eyesight was not very good.

He said that on September 2, the girl had gone out to play with two other friends.

However, when the friends returned, they told the victim's mother that she had got into a car with a man.

Mr Oates told the court that once the girl was in his car, Margam had touched the girl's genitals and then got her to engage in oral sex.

"Her mother was extremely worried," he said. "She had seen the defendant drive past and then sometime later she saw her daughter walking down the street."

Margam was arrested a short time later, but first of all refused to speak to the police.

However, he then admitted in full to both offences.

Paul Roach, mitigating, said: "He is extremely ashamed of what happened that day.

"He says it is completely out of character and he has no previous convictions."

Magistrates ruled that their maximum sentencing power of a one-year prison sentence was not enough.

They committed Margam to Chelmsford Crown Court for sentence on a date to be fixed.

Published Wednesday, February 20, 2002