A PROFESSIONAL magician who had unprotected sex three times with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for two years at Worcester Crown Court.

Bill Hanson, who advertises as Master Magician in Yellow Pages, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and was banned from practising as a magician for children under the age of 16 unless the show is pre-arranged with an appropriate adult.

Hanson, aged 39, of School Lane, Leominster, pleaded guilty to three offences of sexual activity with a child.

Ian Speed, prosecuting, said Hanson had sexual intercourse with the girl within two days of meeting her in May.

Although married with a young son, he had sex with her on two more occasions. He was interviewed by police after sending her an explicit e-mail.

He told police that she was very flirtatious'' and he had succumbed to her advances.

Judge Alistair McCreath said he had demonstrated magic tricks which entailed them looking deeply into each other's eyes. This had led to sexual contact.

Michael Aspinall, defending, submitted that there had been a degree of mutual attraction and this had led to consensual sex.

He said that Hanson was not sexually attracted to young people and was not a danger to young girls.

The case had cost him his 11-year career and his family. His wife had begun divorce proceedings and he had lost contact with his son.

Judge McCreath accepted that Hanson could not be classified as a sexual predator, but as a mature man he should have rejected any advances by a girl half his age. He persisted in having sex with the girl and followed it up with contact by e-mail.

Courts had a duty to protect vulnerable young girls and he made an order limiting Hanson's contact with children under the age of 16 unless authorised by the probation service.