SINGAPORE: A man was on Friday (May 27) sentenced to two years and four months’ jail for having sex with a teenage girl he met in a Japanese street style group.

The man, now in his 30s, started having sex with the girl when she was under the age of 16. Both of their identities are protected by gag order.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of having sex with a minor. Another four charges were considered for sentencing.

The duo met in 2018, when the victim joined a local group that embraces “Harajuku culture”, referring to a street style popular in Japan.

The offender was then already part of the group, whose members regularly met up in town dressed in Harajuku style and lunched together.

“The victim also attended several of these lunches on weekdays with the accused and began to develop feelings for the accused,” stated court documents.

In May 2018, the victim sent the offender a text message saying that she felt insecure about her hair, which she had recently cut.

The man suggested that they go to his house where he could help straighten her hair and cut it. She agreed.

He cut the girl’s hair at his house, and they went into his room where she started studying.

Some time later, the offender suggested the victim rest with him on the bed. They then had sex.

They continued to have sex at the offender’s house on subsequent occasions.

The man was aware that he was having sex with a minor and that this was against the law, stated court documents.

The offences were discovered when a family member of the victim received an anonymous message on Instagram that claimed the victim was sleeping with someone.

The family member knew that the victim spent time with people from the Harajuku culture group and informed the victim’s mother.

The victim’s mother then…