Pervert grabbed mums.

A PERVERT who groped women when they were with their children has been placed on the sex offenders' register for five years.

Christopher Watson followed the women in Front Street in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, between May and October, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

David Wilkinson, prosecuting, said Watson's first victim was walking with her four-year-old son and another child in a pushchair. The 41-year-old became aware of Watson following her before grabbing her on the buttock and remarking "phwoar".

A second 19-year-old victim said she turned to see him smiling at her being assaulted and his third victim, a 31-year-old, had bent down to her child in a pushchair when she was grabbed. Watson later accepted he might have "inadvertently" touched her. And a 24-year-old woman was followed by Watson before he reached under her coat and grabbed her.

Watson, 21, of Hilda Park, Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault at a previous hearing. Stephen Thornton, mitigating, said he was sorry.

Watson was also made subject of a three year community order and ordered to be assessed for a sexual offender programme.