AN Oldbury man who carried out sex attacks on two schoolgirls at a leisure centre in the Dudley area has avoided spending time behind bars.

Judge Simon Ward told Nathaniel Cannon it was more important steps were taken to resolve his "issues" than to send him into custody for a short time.

The judge told Cannon, aged 23:"What you did to those girls that day has had a far reaching effect on them, they were kids who had just gone to the leisure facility expecting to have fun."

He said it was clear Cannon presented a high risk of sexual offending again in the future as he added: "In my judgement, at this stage in your life, the opportunity to deal with your risk is something I have got to take.

"I have to think of the risks to young children and I do not want you to be touching other young children sexually and, if there is something I can do to prevent that from happening then I should."

The judge said he was in no doubt Cannon did have an attraction to the young girls as he ruled he had paid particular attention to a number of young girls who were using the swimming pool.

Cannon, of Romsley Road, had denied two charges of sexual assault but he was convicted after jurors retired to consider the evidence after his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The judge said: "I know that you deny this but having listened to you I am in no doubt that you did have an attraction to these young girls."

Cannon was given a three year community order, made the subject of a rehabilitation activity requirement and barred from entering swimming pools.

He was further told to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £240 towards the costs of the case.

The jury heard that Cannon maintained he had done nothing inappropriate while attending the centre and he had not behaved badly.