A JUDGE spared a Bulgarian man from prison after he approached three females – two of them schoolgirls – and attempted to kiss them.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Ivan Popov’s first victim was a teenager waiting at a bus stop in the city centre, whose hand he grabbed and kissed twice.

When her friend arrived, he puckered his lips at her and also grabbed her hand.

Popov was arrested after the girls reported the incident to police.

He was questioned and released on bail but the following day approached his third victim outside a shop in the city centre, kissing her on the cheek and grabbing at her hand after she agreed to give him a cigarette.

Popov, 48, was arrested after a security guard came to her assistance. Having spent six months on remand, he admitted three counts of sexual assault.

Judge Gary Burrell QC imposed a 12-month conditional discharge.

Popov was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for 12 months.