A Christchurch man who groomed a girl for sex messaged her about every 15-minutes, for every daylight hour.

A 35-year-old’s been sentenced to 19-months imprisonment after four-charges involving a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, including exposing them to indecent material, sex grooming and indecent assault last year.

The Christchurch District Court heard the man sent the girl 3100 messages over two months.

Judge Tom Gilbert says the man treated her as his girlfriend, saying he loved her and offering to buy gifts.

He says the offending has had a significant impact on the girl and her wider family.

Judge Gilbert noted the man had a depraved childhood, having been a victim of sexual abuse himself.