A man has admitted to having sex with a 13-year-old girl on two separate occasions.

The accused entered guilty pleas mid-trial on Wednesday, just two days after proceedings began, following an unsuccessful legal challenge to exclude his confession to investigators.

The man initiated contact with the teenager through social media in early 2022. Despite learning during their online exchanges that she was only 13 years old, he continued the relationship and arranged to meet her.

The first sexual encounter took place in April 2022 in bushes close to the girl’s residence. A second incident followed three months later in July.

Authorities were alerted to the abuse in November 2022, leading to criminal charges on two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

The matter is scheduled for sentencing on February 27th.