A Bristol man who had sex with two schoolgirls, aged 14 and 15, has been jailed for 15 months.

Harry Chapman, who was 20 at the time, befriended the teenagers and they agreed to be intimate with him, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The court heard both girls appeared to be older and were sexually active before their encounters with him.

Chapman, now 21, of Ashley Road, Montpelier, pleaded guilty to two charges of having sexual activity with a child.

Imposing sentence, The Honourable Mr Justice Field told him: "These girls were vulnerable girls. There was not a large difference between your age and their age, but girls of that age are immature and should be protected."

The judge handed Chapman a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention order, requiring him to stay away from youngsters, and told him to register as a sex offender.

Jason Taylor, prosecuting, told the court the 15-year-old met Chapman and though she felt he always wanted intimacy and she was being used she consented to have sex at his home. Several weeks later the girl and her friend visited Chapman together, the court heard.

Mr Taylor said he offered the girls cannabis if they kissed each other, which they declined, but they accepted his offer of drink. It was after that, Mr Taylor said, when Chapman had sex with the second girl.

Matters came to light when one of the girls spoke about him to an adult.

Initially Chapman made no comment when police put allegations to him.

Fiona Elder, defending, told the judge: "I don't mean to be critical of the girls involved but I do ask you to consider that you are dealing with girls who present as far more mature.

"Unfortunately they are clearly far more sexually active and knowledgeable than any girl of that age should be. He is a young man who was 20 at the time. He is vulnerable himself."

Miss Elder stressed both girls consented and were not forced to drink alcohol.

She said: "The sexual acts were illegal by reason of the ages of the girls.

"The three were acting like many, many teenagers act.

"Girls need to be protected not only from offenders but from themselves."