A twisted Kung Fu instructor groomed a teenage girl before having sex with her in a gross breach of trust after ‘falling in love with her’.
Daniel Murphy took advantage of the girl and “groomed” her after claiming to have fallen in love with her on the first day that they met.
27-year-old Murphy took a shine to her during classes at a Kung Fu club which he taught at.
This week a court heard how it became very apparent that he was attracted to her and they started kissing and touching, before eventually having sex.
Murphy admitted engaging in sexual activity with a child between September 2016 and September 2017.
David Godfrey, prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, said that the girl first joined the martial arts club when she was a young teenager and he was 19.
Murphy, of Peter Nevill Way, Long Riston, was an assistant instructor in Kung Fu there and was “very experienced” in it, but she was a novice.
Murphy made a comment that she “looked like a lad” and she was upset by this, according to Hull Daily Mail.
The girl posted a Facebook message about the incident and Murphy contacted her and their chat became more frequent.
“It became apparent that Murphy was interested in her,” said Mr Godfrey.
They engineered time to spend alone together and he would give her lifts.
They began kissing and touching and had unprotected sex three times at his home.
The prosecution claimed that Murphy had “groomed” the girl and had a “position of authority” over her because he was an instructor.
“He was teaching her a new skill,” said Mr Godfrey.
Murphy ended the relationship with the girl, presumably because he knew that it was wrong, the court heard, and started a new relationship with a girl of 17 but briefly had a sexual relationship with the girl again when she was 16 before again ending it.
She reported the matters to the police in 2018.
The girl said in a statement that she had “really struggled” at times because of what happened and, in the past, felt unable to do anything.
She dreaded bumping into Murphy accidentally and constantly checked cars to make sure that they were not his. She felt “so emotional and upset” about it.
“What happened really affected her,” said Mr Godfrey.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that Murphy joined the Kung Fu club when he was 16 and was a volunteer instructor, not an officially appointed one.
“As he rose up the ranks, he assisted with the younger members,” said Miss Scott.
“The sexual contact took place at his home away from the club.
“He accepts that he developed an inappropriate relationship while at the martial arts club.”
Murphy instantly thought, at their first meeting, that he was in love with the girl but he later told her that their relationship could not continue because of their ages and he ended the relationship, the court was told.
Judge John Thackray QC told Murphy: “You were the third in line instructor at a Kung Fu club when you were 19.
“You were her instructor and you began community on social media. That developed into you giving her a lift home.”
A sexual relationship developed when the girl was still a teenager and he was 21, involving unprotected sex with her three times.
Murphy recognised that the relationship should not be taking place and he ended their contact, although he resumed it when she was 16.
The prosecution claimed that there was grooming but there was “little evidence” of that as far as sentencing guidelines were concerned.
“Your offending has had a significant effect on your victim,” said Judge Thackray.
“I accept there is genuine remorse.”
Murphy, a network security engineer, was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, a six-month 8pm to 6am curfew and 55 days’ rehabilitation.
He must register as a sex offender for 10 years.
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