A drama group leader who struck up a relationship with a 14-year-old girl has avoided going to prison - while his brother escaped jail after admitting to having sex with her.

Jonathan Andrews told the girl he couldn't control his feelings for her and lied to her about having treatment for prostate cancer, Amersham Crown Court heard yesterday.

The court heard he met the girl at the Mad Hatters Drama Group, which he helped to run at Micklefield Community Library, and they became friends while rehearsing for a pantomime.

At the time their relationship started Jonathan, of Pentlands Court, High Wycombe, was 21 and the girl was 14, the court was told.

It ended a few months later and the girl, who by now was 15, started seeing Jonathan's younger brother Nicholas. Their relationship developed into a consensual sexual one, prosecutor Alison Ginn told the court.

Both brothers pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child after the police were informed of what had happened when the girl later told a counsellor about her experiences.

Mrs Ginn said of Jonathan, now aged 23: "He started to go to her home address after he finished work, or in the day time, saying he had been to hospital for cancer treatment. He did not suffer from cancer.

"Initially he tried to kiss her. She didn't kiss back; she was surprised. He was telling her not to tell anyone what had happened, or they had feelings for each other.

"One afternoon he asked her to meet him after one of his fictitious hospital appointments. They walked to a wooded area and kissed up against a tree.

"Jonathan told her he couldn't control his feelings for her and he knew it was wrong."

Mrs Ginn said the girl - who cannot be named for legal reasons - then formed a relationship with Nicholas, now aged 21 and of Bridge Street, High Wycombe.

She said: "He started to go to her home and the relationship moved fairly quickly. When she felt comfortable, she had sexual intercourse with Nicholas Andrews on two occasions at her house."

Judge John Cole gave both brothers community orders compelling them to do unpaid work. They will both have curfew orders for the next two months and were made the subject of supervision orders. Nicholas will also have to attend a sexual offenders' treatment programme.

Addressing Jonathan, Judge Cole said: "It has various aggravating features. There was a significant disparity in age; you were 21, she was 14 or 15. There was also a breach of trust. You had a role as a senior in a drama group; she was a child in that group."

He told Nicholas: "There was full sexual activity. There was a disparity in age - you were 19 during this unlawful, consensual, sexual relationship, knowing full well her age.

"Yes, she was consenting, but the law recognises someone under 16 doesn't have the emotional maturity to deal with sexual relations. You exploited her."

Judge Cole also told the pair: "You have both narrowly avoided a custodial sentence."