A man accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl he contacted through Facebook claimed he is in love with her, the High Court has heard.
Gheorghita-Gabriel Nastasa told police he was aware of her age but didn't realise he had committed any offence.
The 26-year-old Romanian, with an address at Thomas Street in Portadown, Co Armagh, faces a charge of sexual activity with a child after arriving in Northern Ireland.
During a bail application it emerged that police were contacted when the girl and her mother attended a hospital on July 11.
"The child's mother had discovered she may not be a virgin and she wanted confirmation of this," a Crown lawyer said.
The girl told a nurse she had had sex with Nastasa in a bedroom at her family home earlier that month.
Prosecution counsel continued: "Their relationship had been initiated following Facebook contact the applicant made with the child."
Medical tests confirmed the girl was not pregnant, with her parents insisting they had been oblivious to any sexual activity.
Their daughter subsequently claimed the accused took advantage of her, the court heard.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan was told Nastasa admitted sexual intercourse after his arrest.
"He said he knew she was 13 years old, however he stated that he didn't know this was a criminal offence," prosecution counsel said.
Opposing bail, the barrister added: "The applicant has expressed his love for this child at interview and indicated he believed they were in a genuine relationship."
Defence counsel Joel Lindsay accepted his client's admissions meant he can no be longer presumed innocent.
"In reality he will be looking at serving some custodial sentence," Mr Lindsay acknowledged.
The bail application was adjourned.
