AN OLDBURY man who raped a schoolgirl has been put behind bars for eight years and told he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Judge John Warner told 47-year-old Nigel Fearnley he had taken advantage of the 15 year old girl adding: "It is quite clear she did not want you to do what you did."

Fearnley, of Aldridge Road, Brandhall, had denied raping the girl but he was convicted by a jury at the end of his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Mr Antonie Muller defending said: "He mininterpreted her actions - he wrongly thought she would accept his overtures and consent."

He said Fearnley who was further banned from working with children had immediately apologised to the victim as he recognised he had done wrong.

"This was an impulsive offence with a lack of planning," said Mr Muller. "All sorts of alarm bells should have gone off in his head and they did not."