An alcoholic who sexually assaulted two teenage girls by groping them and trying to kiss them has been warned he faces longer prison sentences if he commits a similar offence.

Gary O’Hagan was being mocked by the girls for being drunk before his behaviour became more sinister when he followed them home and attacked them both.

The 50-year-old sexually assaulted the first girl while her friend was in her home before again following them and grabbing the other teenager and sexually assaulting her.

Teesside Crown Court heard how O’Hagan also made vile suggestive comments towards the teenagers and asked them to join him at his flat for a threesome.

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Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said: “They walked back towards the shop and the defendant followed the girls and made comments about the girls being young and asked if they wanted a threesome."

The court was told he then went up close to one of them and tried to kiss her before grabbing her private parts.

The court heard how the teenagers recognised the defendant from the local area and were laughing at him while taking videos of his intoxicated state before moving his bottle of cider from outside a shop.

In a victim impact statement, one of the teenager’s said she had been left feeling worthless as a result of the sexual assault on her.

O’Hagan, of Oxford Street, South Bank, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault following the incident in 2021.

Andrew Turton, mitigating, said his client had struggled for a number of years with alcohol and drug abuse but fully accepted his behaviour was wrong.

He added: “He is a man with a number of medical and mental health issues.”

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Recorder Aisha Wadoodi sentenced the pervert to 14 months in prison but told he would be released imminently as he had served the equivalent while on remand.

“Trying to kiss then, grabbing them and asking them to come back to yours for a threesome – that is predatory behaviour towards these young girls,” she said.

“If there is any repeat of this type of behaviour you will end up serving much longer sentences.”

O’Hagan was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.