SINGAPORE - A bread maker who had sex with his colleague's underage daughter when he stayed at their flat was jailed for three years on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Chinese national - who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity - admitted three charges of sexually abusing the girl in 2012 and 2013 when she was between 13 and 14 years old.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chloe Lee said investigations showed that the victim, a secondary school student, was not close to her parents and would confide in the man about school and personal matters. Her mother had returned to China, which caused a rift between her and her father.

The accused was considered a sworn brother by the girl's father, and he asked him to talk to his daughter and help him look after her.

When they shared a flat in Woodlands, the two men slept in the living room and occasionally the girl would sleep there with them as she was afraid to be alone.

One day in November 2012, the man was alone in the flat with the girl and pulled her towards him. She did not resist and he began fondling her.

The victim told the accused that she "wanted to do it", which the accused understood to mean that she wanted to have sex.

Initially, he refused but relented when she kept pleading with him, the court heard.

The pair had sex again in July last year after the girl and her father had moved to another flat. She reported to police that she had been raped.

Three other charges were taken into consideration during his sentencing.

The accused could have been jailed for up to 10 years and/or fined on each charge.