Would you continue to see him if you found this out?

Ew, no. Absolutely not. He was a grown man in his 20s. How much older can he have thought she was? Just because something is borderline legal doesn't mean it's remotely ethical.

If someone's sexual preference doesn't mature with them then, IMO, they're always at best sleazy and predatory and at worst...well, you know.

Billions of men in the world and you want to saddle yourself with an adult who was sexually attracted to a child? Just, why?

There's much more he hasn't told you, so bear that in mind. You could request information under Clare's Law, but I think you know what your own answer is here.

Absolutely not. Even if she looked a few years older, what is a man in his 20s doing with a much younger girl. A 15 year old doesn’t look 20.

I’m 45 it was more normal 30 years ago, more icky now though, what stands out more is the lying, he claims he didn’t know her age, I don’t believe that, also a suspended sentence, I think it’s more than age related, something went far more wrong to get to court.

Horrified that anyone thinks this is ok because “things were different in the past”, “I had sex with a 25 year old when I was 15 so it’s fine”and “15 year old girls look older”. Disgusting.

And it seems like he did not knowingly commit statutory rape.

Oh come on. Obviously not.

Isn’t this statutory rape? Would I date a rapist? Not knowingly.

Possibly. I disagree with the poster who said 15 year old girls look like 15 year old girls. When I was a teenager in the 90s my best friend looked 19 when she was 13. She always got in clubs with no problems. From the age of about 14/15, if a boy asked how old I was I would always add on a few years. But this was back in the 90s where most girls in the last year of school were dating boys / men who could drive.

I would be wary, and I would have to do some digging myself.

When I was 15, I tried to look much older - we all did !
It was quite common for my classmates to screw "older" men. Who wants to fuck a pimply youth ?

Absolutely not!

It would be the end for me.

God no.

It’s quite difficult to be honest. My first reaction is disgust, there are plenty of fish in the sea and to throw this one back. However, more rationally - How many years ago? When I was that age, it was relatively normal to have an older boyfriend. Some of my friends had long term relationships with boys over 20 and their parents were ok with it. I also know girls that have said they were older - again relatively normal. That was 2000-2003. After that it seemed to even out.

It is a Defence if you as an adult , if 24 or under reasonably believe the person was 16 when you have sex with them

So he is lying as this Defence was not accepted.

Me too I was very much like this! Also going to clubs and raves at about 14

Come to think of it if was him being noncey would he have told you openly?

It’s pretty rare for cases of statutory rape to be prosecuted. There is more to this than he is telling you. I would run.

it depends on his attitude, his remorse, if any.
he thought she was what age?

Fuck no.

No.

finally someone making this point

It's not so much the fact he DID it (could be a genuine mistake or whatever) but its the fact he was prosecuted and received a custodial sentence (Albeit suspended). That indicates they thought there was culpability there and not that he didn't know she was underage...Clearly he either DID know or the judge/jury didn't accept that it was believable he didn't know AND they decided it warranted that punishment....

I feel this is quite common. I knew a bloke years ago who was traumatised after he realised the girl he had met and had sex with was 15, it was at a sports club party, ie an adult party.

As far as I'm aware and especially years ago, consensual sexual relationships between a 15 year and 21/22 year old aren't/weren't prosecuted in the UK, even if it is illegal.

So I think on the basis he was prosecuted, it wasn't consensual in some way so it would be a huge no from me.

Absolutely not, and the fact it resulted in a suspended sentence tells me there was more to it. Did he tell you?

Unless I was desperate and would date any man to just date then I would.
otherwise no.

Why do you even need to ask such a thing!