A child sex offender who fled to South Africa five years ago in a bid to escape justice has been jailed.

Eugene Tyrrell, 43, formerly of Hedge End, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for inciting sexual activity with a child.

Tyrrell had been on the run for five years after being arrested for the offense, which occurred between December 2011 and 2012. Southampton Crown Court heard how Tyrrell met his 13-year-old victim at a birthday party and began talking to her online.

Prosecutor Fern Russell said: "It is clear the defendant was interested in sexual activity with teenage girls." She told the court that Tyrrell, 36 at the time, and his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had begun talking about school, before he admitted he had feelings for her.

The court heard Tyrrell had also been in contact with a younger relative of the victim, although there are no charges relating to this. Tyrrell admitted knowing the victim's age, but told police he only "asked her for sex to see her reaction" and didn't intend to meet her.

A statement from the victim, who said she had self-harmed following the incident, was read in court. It stated: "I was young and vulnerable and Eugene Tyrrell preyed on this. It led me to become depressed... I have been taking medication for depression ever since. All these years he has been free to live in South Africa."

Ms Russell added that the cost of bringing Tyrrell to justice would have been nearly £10,000.

Mitigating, John Dyer said this was an isolated incident, adding that Tyrell, a funeral director, had been "very lonely at the time – intimate relationships were infrequent". Mr Dyer said: "He went back to South Africa and clearly from the reference of his employer in South Africa he is a good worker and highly respected."

Sentencing Tyrrell, Judge Rowland said: "This offending has contributed to quite a significant condition [the victim] has been suffering with from an early age."