A 75-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting a vulnerable resident of their Belfast care home.
Alexander Reynolds was sentenced to three months in prison after admitting to assaulting the woman.
On February 22, Reynolds, who has 200 prior convictions, carried out the attack at a Care Home in the south of the city.
A member of staff overheard the pensioner beg the victim to perform a sexual act, Belfast Magistrates’ Court was told.
Reynolds was seen gripping the woman by the arm and placing her hand into his trousers, despite her refusal.
A Prosecutor stated.
“When this behaviour was challenged, he let go of the complainant’s wrist and she walked away from him,”
Reynolds pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a woman with diminished mental capacity.
Sean O’Hare, a defence barrister, said his client does not recall the incident but believes the care worker’s account is accurate.
Mr. O’Hare recognized Reynolds’ “significant” prior criminal history, which included additional sexual offences, as well as his periods of homelessness and isolation prior to receiving housing at the Care Home.
The defendant had smuggled a bottle of vodka onto the premises earlier that day, The court was told.
He added: “It was against that background that this incident occurred,” Mr O’Hare added.
“Obviously there is zero possibility of him being able to return to that care home.”
Deputy District Judge Liam McStay described Reynolds’ criminal record as “absolutely horrendous”.
“A very significant element of that is in relation to sexual offending,”
“It needs a jail sentence, which is lessened by his guilty plea (but) by nothing else,” the court said, imposing a three-month sentence.
Reynolds is anticipated to be released in a matter of days due to the time he has already spent on remand.
