A SCHOOLGIRL was groomed by a 41-year-old man who set up a fake Facebook account to contact his victim, a court heard.

Sanjay Soni told the 15-year-old girl he would help her with problems at home before setting up the Facebook page under the name "Lucy Lou" so he could contact her, Bolton Crown Court was told.

A police investigation was launched after the girl told a dance teacher that she was having a relationship with an older man.

A trial heard Soni used the Facebook page to chat to the schoolgirl about their future together — telling her they would get married and have children.

The girl said in a police interview played to the court that she thought Soni, aged 41, was her boyfriend.

Soni is accused of having sex with the girl three times, the last time on the evening of Halloween in 2013.

On the first two occasions, the court heard, he took her upstairs at his home in Faringdon Walk, Daubhill, undressed her and had sex with her.

He is also accused of having sex with her on his sofa.

In her police interview she said she did not enjoy it or really want to do it.

In December, 2013, the victim told her teacher that something was upsetting her, but she could not say what as it would "change the way the teacher thought of her".

The next day she told the teacher that she had been in a relationship with an older man, and the school called police.

When police arrested Soni on December 20, they found an iPhone and computer, which had naked images of the girl performing sex acts on herself, as well as a picture of the defendant's penis.

The court heard that between June 2012 and Soni's arrest, he had made 78 calls to the girl, which together lasted 14 hours.

There had also been 1,500 texts sent between the pair.

Andrew MacKintosh, prosecuting, said: "The crown seek to prove that this defendant took advantage of her, groomed her, he incited sexual activity with her and that he kept indecent images of her doing sexual acts to herself.

"He took advantage of a vulnerable young girl and had a sexual relationship with her."

Soni denies grooming, engaging in sexual activity with a child, inciting sexual activity with a child and the possession of indecent images of a child.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place between April and December 2013.

The trial continues.