A jury in the trial of a teenager accused of having sex with an under-age girl has retired to consider its verdict.
Joshua Hodson, 19, denies four charges alleging sexual activity with a child at around the turn of 2016. He has been on trial at Carlisle Crown Court this week.
Giving evidence in his defence, Hodson, of Grey Street, Carlisle, told jurors the girl had informed him she was 16. "I had no reason to doubt her at all," he stated.
Only later did he discover that she was younger.
Earlier in the hearing the female gave evidence, and had said: "I did not tell him I was 16." She added: "He knew my real age."
Today having heard all the evidence in the case, jurors listened to Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC sum up the case. They then retired to start their deliberations.
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