A NEWPORT sex offender with "no concept of sexual restraint" was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for having sex with a child under the age of 16 and breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

Jonathan Swift, 25, of Canon Street, Newport, was previously found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court of engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl in the Malpas area of the city on Saturday, March 1 but not guilty of rape.

Judge Tom Crowther QC said today at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court that Swift had "damaged" the girl due to his lack of sexual restraint.

He sentenced Swift to 10 years imprisonment, an extended sentence for the harm he had caused.

The father-of-two will not be eligible for parole until he has served four years and eight months.

Judge Crowther QC told the court that Swift had been "loitering looking for women, young women" when he met his 13-year-old victim on a bus.

He said "the balance of power" was in Swift's favour and he should have had nothing to do with her.

Judge Crowther QC added: "Following it [the sexual activity], she was very much upset and since then has tried to take an overdose and cut her wrists. This is a child who has been damaged by what you did."

Swift was also found guilty of breaching a sexual prevention order given to him in May 2010 after admitting a sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl. He was banned from approaching, speaking to, or being with any child who were not family members, for 10 years.

The jury in Swift's trial previously heard from another girl Swift had chatted to on a bus who claimed he subsequently sexually assaulted her after getting off at her stop.

Judge Crowther QC added: "It's plain to me that you have no concept of sexual restraint and you are prepared to use force to those who do not consent."

He was given a new sexual offences prevention order banning him from having any unsupervised contact with any child under 16 or living in the same household as a child under the age of 16 without approval, indefinitely.