A MAN who had unprotected sex with two vulnerable girls on multiple occasions has been detained.

Detectives said Reece Lewis Hodgson, 19, targeted both of his victims, who were 13 and 14 years old, ‘for his own sexual gratification’.

Hodgson, of Blackburn, knew both girls were underage and even said to one of them “if the police find out I’m going to sent down for this”, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Hodgson, who was 16 and 17 at the time the offences were committed, pleaded guilty to five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child shortly before he was due to stand trial.

While on bail awaiting trial for the sex offences, the court was told police found Hodgson driving around with 12 wraps of cocaine and a flip-knife. He told officers he needed the knife for protection as people were after him.

Prosecuting, Joe Boyd said Hodgson’s offending only came to light on May 8, 2015, when the father of the 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, became suspicious about where his daughter was. Using an application on her phone he tracked her to an address in Walton-le-Dale.

Mr Boyd said when the man collected his daughter she told him she had been at the house next door. When he found the right address and spoke to Hodgson, the defendant became angry and made threats of violence towards him, the court heard.

Mr Boyd said the 14-year-old’s father confronted her and she told him she had had unprotected sex with Hodgson. She also told them the defendant had had sex with the 13-year-old girl, who also cannot be named, at a house in Leyland.

The 13-year-old slept with the defendant in 2014 after being pressured by him, the court heard.

Mr Boyd said after that relationship ended Hodgson texted the 14-year-old, a school friend of the other victim, and asked to meet up. He had sex with her in May 2015.

Defending, David Morton said his client had been immature and had learnt his lesson.

Mr Morton, said Hodgson had lost two jobs after his former employers had received anonymous phone calls from people telling them about the court proceedings. He said: “There was youth and immaturity on both sides.”

Hodgson also admitted to possessing of cocaine and a weapon.

He was sent to a young offenders’ institution for a total of 21 months, told to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and made subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

As he was taken from the dock Hodgson was heard to make death threats towards a member of one of the victim’s family.

Det Insp Martin Pearson said: “Hodgson targeted two vulnerable girls for his own sexual gratification.

“He befriended both victims whom he knew were underage.

“The victims have shown great courage and I hope today’s result will help them to move forward with their lives and encourage other victims of sexual offences to report it to us.”