A Honiton teenager who had sex with three school girls slashed his wrists in a suicide bid the day after he was remanded in custody.

A Honiton teenager who had sex with three school girls slashed his wrists in a suicide bid the day after he was remanded in custody.

At Exeter Crown Court today Dean Perry, now 20, was sent to youth custody for four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to five charges of sexual activity with a child.

Prosecutor Richard Crabb said the early offences came to light when the first victim told a school friend and, following a police interview with her, a second girl was also seen and made allegations.

Perry was then released on bail and proceeded to bombard the third girl with sex texts saying that he loved her, wanted to marry her and sleep with her. She travelled on the train to Honiton and had sex with Perry in his bedroom.

The court heard all the offences happened between May and September 2008 when the girls were aged 13 and 14.

Mitigating, Robert Duval said Perry was 19 at the time but was intellectually impaired and had a mental age of between nine and 10. He said this was not a case of Perry coercing the victims.

"This was not a young man who was sophisticated and corrupting the na�ve and vulnerable," said Mr Duval. "It would be unjust to say that he corrupted at least two of them with sexual experiences they did not already know about."

Defence counsel said he accepted that the offence against the third girl who was 14 was aggravated by the fact Perry was on bail at the time. However he asked the court to take into consideration that the age gap between the defendant and the three girls was not as substantial as was found in many such cases.

Mr Duval said Perry agreed that he had taken advantage of these young girls who were prepared to have sex with him and that was 'unforgivable.'

In addition to the custodial sentence Perry of Roundball Close, Honiton, was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely, was banned from working with children and made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which restricts his access to young people under 16.

Passing sentence Judge Stephen Wildblood QC told Perry: "The aggravating features are that there were three victims and the offence against the third was committed while on bail. In mitigation I have taken into account your guilty pleas, your age and the effect that custody will have on you. I also accept that you were 19 at the time and have expressed a degree of remorse.