Was this illegal?

I'm 19 and saw a really attractive girl on instagram. I messaged her and we started talking (this was back in February) she looked about 19 too. We got on really well and spoke pretty much everyday and have sent flirty text messages i.e. saying 'can't wait to kiss you/have you in my bed/can't wait for us to f**k' type of thing. Just to clarify we have never ever sent any nude photos or underwear photos. The only thing we've done is text and sent flirty texts such as the ones above.

A couple weeks ago when we were arranging to meet up, I asked how old she was (because underage girls can look a lot older so I wanted to make sure she was 16+). She told me she was 16, I was a bit surrprised as i would have guessed her to be my age but I was ok with it as its only a few years difference and legal. After we ended up meeting for the first time last weekend in july and ended up having sex.

However after she said 'by the way just want to make sure you're ok with it but i only turned 16 in may'. I didn't know what to say as although we only met for the first time and had sex whilst she was 16 we were actually talking since february so for about 4 months whilst we were texting and sending flirty messages she was actually 15.

She said she's fine with it and said she's had sex with other guys my age when she was 15 so it doesn't bother her and said 'loads of people do it just don't say anything and no one found out about them' but that's not the point for me I want to follow the law completely and not risk getting in any trouble especially if her parents find out and call the police as apparantly her parents are extremely controlling and strict. I don't want to have my life ruined and put on a sex offenders list or anything. I do really like her and have feelings for her and want to see her again and she said she likes me too but anything could happen her parents could find out i was talking to her whilst she was 15 and call the police or me and this girl could end up getting in an argument in a few months and she hates me so decides to call the police herself and say she was talking to me whilst she was 15 to try ruin me.

Was what we did fine or illegal to have text and flirted whilst she was 15 (no nude/underwear photos exchanged) and end up meeting / having sex whilst she was 16? Or is everything ok and if she or her parents called the police and they assessed my case I would be fine?

The age of consent is 16. If all sexual activity between the two of you which you talk about definitely happened when she was 16, then this is perfectly legal.
The previous messaging while she was 15 would not seem to be a cause for concern, for me anyway, as it was only flirtatious messages etc. And there was no explicit photos being exchanged. Although remember: if explicit photos of her are being sent now, while she is 16, then this is child pornography. She is still technically a minor (below 18).

Just to be on the safe side, I wouldn’t text her, cause like what if things get deeper and she ends up sending you a pic. That’s still considered child pornography.

l will give you only one bit of advice stay away from her she is nothing but big trouble she has been playing around with other guys when she was under 16 years old block her on everything take no more to do with her dont ever meet her ever again dont phone her dont talk with her ever again now stay safe and dont send or ask anyone for pictures or nudes in the future l know you said nothing like that happened with you two just get it into your head she is not the girl for you at all

Thanks for the advice however I do really like her and I forgive her past, from what I've gathered a number of girls have done this 'in secret' before just would never say anything. So I trust her for telling me and being open i.e. she could have not told me. Although what she did was wrong we all make mistakes.

My main concern is whether I could get in trouble for texting and flirting with a 15 year old and asking her to meet up

Thanks for the advice however I do really like her and I forgive her past, from what I've gathered a number of girls have done this 'in secret' before just would never say anything. So I trust her for telling me and being open i.e. she could have not told me. Although what she did was wrong we all make mistakes.

My main concern is whether I could get in trouble for texting and flirting with a 15 year old and asking her to meet up

Thats why I'm really scared of turning 15... I'm turning 15 in a few months and i'm still so childish whilst other 15 year olds are talking and sleeping with adults...

Even after she told you she was 16 why did you want to meet up with her. As a 19 y/o that's hella shady my guy

The age of consent is 16. If all sexual activity between the two of you which you talk about definitely happened when she was 16, then this is perfectly legal.
The previous messaging while she was 15 would not seem to be a cause for concern, for me anyway, as it was only flirtatious messages etc. And there was no explicit photos being exchanged. Although remember: if explicit photos of her are being sent now, while she is 16, then this is child pornography. She is still technically a minor (below 18).

Only a 3 year age gap, a lot of relationships and parents/marriages have bigger age gaps.

Most these other 15 year olds sleeping with adults are still childish as they think it is 'cool' to be with an older guy and do it to be rebelious and act like they're cool / popular. Most will end up getting used for sex or getting an STD. I never lost my virginity till I was 18/19 so I wouldn't worry about it and in fact every guy would rather their girlfriend to be a virgin.. some guys even get put off girls if they've slept with multiple guys as it suggests they're 'easy'.

Could the flirty messages not be seen as grooming?