A STUDENT who raped a 12-year-old and made her pregnant has been sentenced to two years and 10 months detention.

Gary Dryden, 19, made contact with the girl by Facebook in September 2016, before meeting up with her and having sex at least seven times.

Judge Lord Burns told Dryden, from Irvine, Ayrshire: “You purposely contacted this child and developed a sexual relationship with her.”

Lord Burns said that but for his early plea he would have jailed Dryden for three and a half years.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Dryden is assessed as being at a high risk of re-offending.

The court heard that Dryden first had sex with the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at a secluded area near a sports centre in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.

The “scared” girl later discovered she was having his baby and after speaking with her parents had an abortion.

Dryden pled guilty to raping her.

The girl was 12 when she received a friend request from Dryden on Facebook.

Prosecutor Gillian Ross said he was “unknown to her” at the time – but they exchanged messages and agreed to see each other.

It was during one meeting Dryden suggested they go to a quiet spot close to a sports centre in Kilwinning.

The court heard he told the girl he wanted to have sex with her – she initially thought he was “joking”.

Miss Ross then explained: “A few days after the first incident, they met up.

“This pattern of contact continued and they had sexual intercourse on at least seven occasions always at the same location.”

At the time Dryden was a student at James Watt College in Kilwinning.

Defence counsel Louise Arrol argued that the case should be dealt with by a community payback order, rather than detention, given his age and the fact he has learning difficulties.