A Ministry of Defence worker has escaped a prison sentence after being found guilty of trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

Alejandro Carrasco was spared a jail term yesterday, (April 8) despite refusing to admit he was guilty, after being convicted of one count of sexual activity with a child.

The 47-year-old, who retired from the Army in 2002 and now works for the MoD, twice attempted to kiss the 14-year-old during a house party.

When she refused his advances, Carrasco, of Harebell Way, Bicester, grabbed a bottle of wine and walked off.

Peter DuFeu, defending, said Carrasco, who is married, had refused to accept any wrongdoing.

He had been allowed to continue working for the MoD, but would lose his job if he was sent to prison.

Judge Bruce McIntyre warned Carrasco that he could have been jailed, but instead sentenced him to a two-year community rehabilitation order.

He said: "You still don't accept what the girl says, but the jury believed it. It would have been very distressing for her and I am sure in your heart of hearts you understand that.

"You have been sentenced on the basis that you are a person of good character, but if you come before the court for anything like this again, you will go to prison."

Carrasco's name has been added to the Sex Offenders' Register. He was ordered to pay £1,200 towards court costs.