A MAN of 64 has been jailed for sexually assaulting three underage schoolgirls after offering them drugs and alcohol.

Ralph Craven squeezed one child's bottom and breasts and repeatedly kissed her on the lips, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

A second girl was smacked on the bottom and pushed on to a sofa and sexually assaulted. Craven's third victim was kissed on the lips as she pushed him away.

The girls, aged 13, 14 and 15, were molested in Craven's home between November, 2012, and November, 2013, prosecutor Matthew Bean said.

Craven, of Bradford Road, Riddlesden, Keighley, pleaded guilty to five offences of sexual assault and was locked up for two years and three months.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, told him: "These are disgusting acts on your part. What you did to these girls in your home has had a far-reaching and adverse effect on them."

Craven, who is the father of two sons, must sign on the sex offenders' register for ten years and the judge made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to protect children from him in the future.

Mr Bean said Craven offered the girls cannabis, cigarettes and beer.

He told one she would "lose her virginity tonight" and another that he was in love with her.

Craven was arrested on November 20, 2013, and told the police he had trouble with his memory after suffering several strokes. He admitted smoking cannabis but denied any wrongdoing with the girls, saying one had a crush on him.

Craven was convicted of indecently assaulting an eight-year-old girl when he was aged 20, the court was told.

Victim impact statements from two of the teenagers said one had difficultly sleeping and suffered from anxiety. She no longer went out as much and she did not like visiting people in their homes.

A second girl said she was depressed, no longer trusted older men and felt uncomfortable in their presence.

In mitigation, Craven's barrister, Sophie Drake, said Craven suffered from ill health and was drinking heavily at the time. He would find custody very difficult and had received threats that he had reported to the police.

"He is horrified that he has done these things to these children and the effect it has had upon them," she said.

Craven had no recollection of his previous conviction for sexual assault because he had suffered a nervous breakdown at the time.

He pleaded guilty to abusing the three girls before they had to come to court to give evidence in a trial, she added.