Carer guilty of 'sadistic' attack

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A carer has been convicted of a sadistic sexual assault on an elderly dementia patient he was supposed to be looking after in a nursing home.

The 77-year-old woman needed emergency surgery after losing a litre of blood in the attack at The Mountains Nursing Home in Libanus, near Brecon.

Gareth Jones, 22, of Trecastle, had denied sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder.

Judge Philip Richards adjourned sentencing until 29 July.

He told Jones to expect a substantial term in prison and remanded him in custody while an assessment of the danger he poses is carried out.

The court had heard the assault took place on the night of 13 February 2007 as Jones was on a night shift and was putting the woman to bed.

He was working alone, which is against the nursing home's protocol, and later asked a member of staff to lie and say he had worked with her all night.

The victim did not give evidence at the trial because of her mental condition.

'Shaking'

Prosecutor Ieuan Morris said Jones subjected the woman to a "cruel, deplorable, sexual and sadistic attack while alone with her in her bedroom".

Rebecca Morante, a senior care assistant at the home, received an emergency call to attend the pensioner's room some time after 2210.

The court heard she saw the victim's room mate sleeping in her bed while the injured woman lay on the other bed.

"The defendant was in the room shaking at the sight of the blood," Mr Morris said.

Jones had said in his evidence he had not showered or changed his underwear in the time between the assault and the start of his next shift nearly 24 hours later when he was arrested.

No "suspicious" evidence was found on his body or clothing, but Mr Morris suggested he would have had time to clean himself up.

Jones's mother Deborah also told the court her son did not shower in between the two shifts but just "wet his face and used half a can of Lynx" after waking.

Jones was in tears as he was led from the dock, and a man who had accompanied him to court shouted "this whole trial is a sham" from the public gallery.