A Ugandan illegal immigrant, who groomed a 13-year-old girl for sex and promised to marry her, has been jailed for three years and will be deported.

Ismail Kiggundu, a 29-year-old father, encouraged the Hertfordshire teenager to send him naked photographs of herself and travel to his home in Commonside East, Mitcham, where they had sex.

Kiggundu met the girl through a dating site called Tagged, which is marketed for over-18s but the girl had signed up to it anyway, St Albans Crown Court heard on Friday, February 10.

Even though he realised she was under age, Kiggundu, who told her he was 19, continued the relationship and encouraged her to bunk off school to see him.

Prosecutor Michael Speak said they first met near her home in Rothamsted Park, Harpenden, where he persuaded her to perform a sex act on him.

She sent the defendant pictures of her naked and he told her: “I miss your body.”

He also sent her an explicit photograph of himself and they exchanged texts through Blackberry Messenger.

He had even bought her a hoodie to hide her school uniform while playing truant, the court heard.

Mr Speak said the police were called on October 3, 2011, after the girl’s mother had confiscated her mobile phone as a punishment and found naked photographs of her and more photos of her kissing an older man.

When the girl was interviewed by officers, she said Kiggundu told her he would marry her when she was 16 and was going to buy her a ring.

Kiggundu pleaded guilty to meeting a child following sexual grooming and two counts of sexual activity with a child. He has not seen his three-year-old son since being arrested in October, the court heard.

Alex Krikler, defending Kiggindu, said he was an over-stayer in the UK and would be deported to Uganda after serving his prison sentence, but that he wanted to stay in Britain and join the Army.

Judge John Plumstead told him: “You seduced this girl. She was unhappy at home. She was looking for someone to trust. You took the opportunity to indulge yourself.

“You encouraged her to take indecent images of herself and send them to you. You persuaded her to engage in sexual conduct. It was entirely for you own gratification.”

Kiggundu was also banned from working with children and placed on the sex offender register for life.