A Cape Dorset, Nunavut, man has been sentenced to three years in a federal penitentiary after pleading guilty to four sex-related offences involving young girls in the community.

The charges against Peter Aningmiuq, 20, included sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching of a person under the age of 16.

On March 5, RCMP in Cape Dorset got a call from the father of a 10-year-old girl. The girl told police Aningmiuq had sexually assaulted her.

He was arrested and he admitted to police there had been several other incidents involving girls aged 11, 12 and 14 years old.

Aningmiuq has been in custody at the Baffin Correctional Centre since March.

The defence said Aningmiuq is an honest young man and doesn't consider himself to be a pedophile. He stood up in court and apologized for what he had done.

Justice Andy Mahar told Aningmiuq what he did will have a lifelong impact on the victims.

Mahar gave him credit for time served, leaving Aninqmiuq with just over two and a half years behind bars.

Mahar told Aningmiuq he did not want to send him to a penitentiary but he had no choice given the circumstances of the case.