A TEENAGER who forced himself on a 13-year-old girl has had a rape charge dropped after he admitted sexual activity with a child.

But prosecutors told Swindon Crown Court that they still maintain the victim was not consenting to having sex with Matthew Stinchcombe.

Hannah Squire, for the Crown, said yesterday (Tuesday) that it was accepted that the 18-year-old had a number of mental health issue,s meaning he may have thought she did.

She said "Our case is that, very clearly, the victim did not consent. We accept that there is an issue of reasonable belief of consent."

Stinchcombe, of Woodroffe Square, Calne, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child in April 2014, when he was still aged 16.

Jason Taylor, defending, told the court that his client has both Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Judge Peter Blair QC adjourned the case to July 7 and released him on conditional bail until then.