A MAN who approached a teenage girl and tried to kiss her has been given a 30-month community order, a court heard.

Jamie Tuthill approached the 16-year-old girl walking to Lymington library, asking for the time and whether she would send a text message for him.

Rachel Robertson, prosecuting, said he brushed grass off the girl, which she told him not to do, then tried to kiss her.

A month or so earlier he approached a 14-year-old girl who was walking home, asking her the time and whether he could use her toilet, the court heard.

Tuthill was identified by both girls from the incidents, on June 30 and May 18 last year, the court heard.

He admitted sexual assault and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour.

Fern Russell, mitigating, said that Tuthill had been bullied at school and felt the need to get people’s approval.

Tuthill, 21, of Loundyes Close, Thatcham, Berkshire, must attend a sexual offenders’ treatment programme, will be put on the sex offenders’ register for seven years and received a sexual offences prevention order.

He was ordered to pay £115.