An Isle of Wight man has been handed a jail term after he made sexual advances towards a child on a bus, telling her he wanted to spit in her mouth.

Bailey Exposite, of Trinity Road, Ventnor, appeared before Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing, after previously pleading guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and assault by beating.

Tim Devlin, prosecuting, said the 23-year-old was on the number five bus from Newport to East Cowes, on March 10, travelling to see his drug dealer.

Exposite asked passengers if he could connect to their mobile hotspots, Mr Devlin told the court, before sitting behind a girl.

When Exposite called the young passenger pretty, she told him she was 15, said Mr Devlin.

Exposite told the girl that he wanted to ‘keep her in a box until she was legal,’ said the prosecution.

He got off the bus at the same stop, grabbed her forearm and told her he wanted to pull her hair, spit in her mouth, hug and kiss her, at which point a group of boys stepped in to help her.

Recorder Richard Stead congratulated the boys for recognising the girl was frightened and distressed, and for rescuing her.

Recalled to prison, Exposite is currently serving a jail term until April 2024.

Annabel Hazlitt, defending, said her client’s offender manager had been impressed with Exposite's attitude, adding he had been making ‘extremely good’ progress, proactively taking opportunities with probation.

Ms Hazlitt told the court Exposite has been looking forward to leaving the Island and starting a new life.

Judge Recorder Richard Stead said Exposite had been convicted nine times for 23 offences, including theft, affray, shoplifting, battery, drug cultivation and robbery.

Exposite was handed a one-month sentence for the sexual offence and a two-week sentence for assault, to run concurrently with current jail term.

Recorder Stead imposed a restraining order, and Exposite will be placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years.