He met the girls on Facebook.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons relating to protecting the girls' identities, appeared in the Supreme Court in Burnie yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to:

■ One count of communicating with the intent to procure a person under 17 to engage in an unlawful sexual act.

■ Three counts of aggravated sexual assault.

■ One count of indecent assault.

■ Two counts of sexual intercourse with a young person.

Justice David Porter was told the man, aged in his 20s, met the girls on Facebook, which he used to ask them for sex.

After sex acts with one of the girls, Crown prosecutor Jody Dennison said the man gave her cigarettes and, on one occasion, $30 of phone credit.

That girl's father discovered what was happening and the matter was reported to police.

The man admitted to police his conduct with the second girl, the court heard.

Greg Richardson, for the man, said the first girl initiated the idea of payment.

Mr Richardson said the girl took the man's wallet and $30 on one occasion.

He asked for them back and she refused, Mr Richardson said.

"This is not a predator preying on the immature, inexperienced child," Mr Richardson said.

Mr Richardson said the girl said she would give the wallet and money back if the man got her phone credit, and he complied.

Mr Richardson said the man gave the second girl money before sex.

Mr Richardson suggested the man's acts may have stemmed not so much from a particular attraction to young people, but from a lack of social skills and a desire to have a relationship with someone he could relate to as an equal.

Mr Richardson said the man told police he knew what he did was wrong.

Justice Porter adjourned the matter until October 29, and bailed the man until then.