A Wicklow man has avoided a jail term for the sexual exploitation of a school girl.

27-year-old Theodore McGivern of Grove Meadow, Ballinahinch Lower, Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation at a location in Dublin on June 13, 2013.

Theodore McGivern sent a photograph of his erect penis to the 15-year-old girl days after meeting her on a city centre street.

He knew she was doing her Junior Certificate at the time and telephoned her after some of her exams to see how she had done.

The victim told gardaí that she later invited McGivern into her home where they went to her bedroom and he touched various areas of her body.

He stopped when the victim told him to do so.

A pscychological assessment of McGivern stated that he has a "significant number of traits associated with autistic spectrum disorder," is psychologically vulnerable and has an active fantasy life.

Judge Martin Nolan said that McGivern's behaviour was "deeply inappropriate" but that he was satisfied that he is not a danger to society.

He imposed a two and a half year sentence which he suspended for two years.

He also ordered that McGivern have no contact with the girl and that he undergo two years probation supervision.