ONE OF Southampton's most wanted men has been jailed for four years after a string of sex attacks on women and girls as young as 11.

Daniel Randall-Coles will serve four years in prison and five years on licence after pleading guilty to 17 sexual attacks on women between 11 and 38 years old.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court the 25-year-old of Millbrook Road West admitted to riding up silently behind women on his bicycle wearing high visibility gear and groping them, grabbing their bodies in a sexual nature on many occasions by putting his hand up the female's coat or skirt before fleeing the scene.

Sentencing, Judge Ralls QC said it was a "bizarre" offence and told the court he believed Randall-Coles was a danger to the public as the offences showed Randall-Coles planned the attacks which happened in the space of around two weeks.

Crying as his mother, sister and partner - who he has a two-month-old son with - sat in the public gallery, Randall-Coles heard from prosecution that between January 11 and January 29 this year he assaulted women when they were alone in public places, regularly occupied taking on the phone, listening to music or exercising and he would cycle up behind them and grab them.

The assaults happened in various locations across the city near West Quay and Above Bar Street, Southampton General Hospital in Millbrook and Lordshill.

On some occasions victims said that he circled back on his bike, laughed or grinned at them and one woman said he winked at her.

Victim statements read to the court said that many felt "violated and very scared" as well as "disgusted and ashamed."

Randall-Coles was sentenced to four years in prison and five years After admitting 15 counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexually assaulting girls aged under 13.

He will also be registered on the Sex Offenders Lister and has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an indefinite period of time.