A STOURBRIDGE man who carried out a string of sickening sex attacks on three schoolgirls he "groomed" has been locked up for 14 years.

The assaults by Nicky Bywater "devastated" his young vulnerable victims and left them all psychologically damaged, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Judge John Wait told the 39-year-old tiler he would only be released from prison when he was deemed to be safe by the authorities and he added: "It may well be that you stay behind bars for the whole 14 years."

The judge said Bywater had been behind a serious course of conduct against the girls and he added: "Each of these offences is part of a pattern of growing offending."

He said the offences caused "immense distress" and the court was told they only finally came to light when one of the girls "bravely" reported what had happened to police officers and Bywater was arrested.

Bywater, of Ashdown Drive, Wordsley, at first denied the offending but later fully admitted his actions and pleaded guilty to seven charges involving rape and sexual assault.

As well as being sentenced to 14 years in prison, he was also made the subject of a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told he would have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Michael Anning, defending, told the court Bywater accepted it was serious offending with a number of aggravating features.

He said: "Nothing can excuse what he did - the responsibility is his and his alone. He said he was at a dark place at the time."

Paul Spratt, prosecuting, said Bywater had given alcohol to the schoolgirls and also showed them pornographic films.

He said that after his arrest his computer was analysed and officers found indecent photographs in all categories including the worst although he had not been charged for that offending.

Bywater showed no reaction as he was jailed.