A FORMER young boxer is facing jail after he was found guilty of having underage sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Clinton Townsend, of Field Assarts, near Leafield, in West Oxfordshire, was yesterday convicted of four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and one count of common assault.

The jury took five hours and 32 minutes to return its verdicts, finding Townsend not guilty of one further count of sexual activity with a child and another of common assault.

During the trial the 20-year-old admitted repeatedly breaching a court order banning him from contacting girls under the age of 18.

He had already pleaded guilty to three breaches of the same order and perverting the course of justice.

All the counts Townsend has been convicted of relate to one 16-year-old girl, who was 15 at the time of the offences, and who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Yesterday, investigating officer Acting Sergeant Charlotte Eden said Thames Valley Police would always pursue “sex offenders such as Mr Townsend”.

She said: “The young girls involved in this case have been brave, not only in their support of the police investigation, but also by going through the difficult experience of giving evidence in court.’’

Townsend will be sentenced today at Oxford Crown Court.