Sex offender who targeted dementia sufferer spared jail
A man who targeted a 'vulnerable woman' who suffered from dementia at a care home has avoided an immediate jail term for sex offences.
Steven Yates was a regular visitor at the care home in Walsall and while he was there he took advantage of the pensioner while her carer was not there, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The 54-year-old, of Great Barr, was found in a corridor with the victim's hand down the front of his trousers on one occasion in January by a carer who called the police.
Mr Gurdeep Garcha, prosecuting, said as soon as Yates saw the care worker he pulled the woman's hand from his trousers and pretended to speak to the person he was visiting who was sat next to him.
Yates was confronted by the carer and initially denied what he had done to the woman, who the court heard could not go out alone and needed help to eat, dress and go to the toilet.
He said she did not have 'mental capacity' and was unable to provide a statement of complaint to the police.
He later admitted what he had done to the carer and apologised, saying he did not know what had come over him.
Mr Garcha said: "He volunteered he had done the exact same thing before, with her hand over his trousers a week before.
"This was a gross invasion of a vulnerable victim."
Yates, of Wimpress Way, Great Barr, admitted two charges of engaging in sexual activity with a woman suffering from a mental disorder on two separate dates in January.
The court heard he had no previous convictions.
Mr Adrian Stephens, mitigating, said he was a straightforward and honest man who had now lost his good character.
He said: "He can't really explain it. He didn't try to blame the other person or personal problems of any nature. He was frank. It was not planned."
Sentencing Yates, Judge John Warner said he had since told probation officers that he also targeted the same woman about a month before.
Yates was handed a 12 month prison term, suspended by two years, and given a two year supervision order.
He was also ordered to attend a sex offenders programme and will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
Yates was also ordered to pay £100 victim surcharge.
