A BUILDER who carried out sex attacks on three schoolgirls has been jailed for more than seven years.

Brett Westwood, of St John's Street, Netherton, admitted four charges involving sexual activity with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Andrew Keogh, prosecuting, said the three victims had been aged between 11 and 15 and the offences had been committed by Westwood between 1992 and 2013.

"These were extremely unpleasant experiences for all the victims," he said.

Recorder Tracey Lloyd-Nesling told Westwood it was clear there had been a "significant degree of grooming behaviour" in the offences.

The crimes had had a major impact on his victims, stressed the Recorder, as she ruled only a substantial prison sentence was appropriate.

Westwood was jailed for seven years and two months and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

He must also register as a sex offender for life.

Rajesh Pabary, defending, said 43-year-old Westwood was full of remorse for his actions adding: "He now wants to get his life back in order on his release from prison."

He told the court Westwood had been a drug user and "felt the drugs affected his sexual behaviour," adding: "He does not want that affect to be repeated in the future."

Mr Pabary said Westwood was a man of previous good character and it was to his credit he had taken full responsibility for his actions.