A Southend man has admitted indecently assaulting two teenage girls, one of whom was under the age of 14.

William Harris, 32, pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates' Court to four charges of indecent assault on the younger girl, one charge of indecent assault on a girl aged over 16 and another charge of gross indecency with a girl.

He will now be sentenced by a judge in the crown court at a date to be confirmed.

The court was told that the first three offences took place between January 1987 and December 1989 at an address in Shenfield while the others took place between January 1996 and August 1998 at an address in Rochford.

Simon Bravery, prosecuting, told magistrates how Harris had indecently assaulted the girls during that time.

Ashley Thain, defending, said the incidents had only come to light because Harris went to the police himself and made a full admission.

Magistrates ordered that Harris, who was bailed to return for sentencing, register as a sex offender with police.

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