Sex-attack pensioner avoids jail

A FRAIL pensioner sexually assaulted a woman in his Oldham flat after she visited him to get telephone contacts to buy drugs, a court was told.

Harry Wareing (74), who has arthritis, walks with a stick and has had seven heart attacks, couldn’t control himself, Manchester Crown Court heard. He made the woman a cup of tea and chatted - then unnerved her by showing her two indecent photographs of women on his mobile phone.

Wareing, who had previous convictions for sexual offences - including the rape of a 13-year-old girl for which he was jailed for six years, then asked his visitor, who was in the early stages of pregnancy, for a “kiss and a cuddle”.

David Bentley, prosecuting, said she tried to put him off by telling him he was old enough to be her grandfather and tried to get out of the flat, but the door was locked and Wareing grabbed her by her hair and sexually assaulted her. She managed to push him away, unlock the door and escape.

The court was told the woman, 28, later sent him a text message telling him how she felt about what he had done, and he replied in apology.

After being arrested Wareing admitted the woman had been in his flat at Newchurch, Bardsley in January last year and that he had asked for a kiss and a cuddle - but he denied showing her photographs or assaulting her.

Wareing, who later pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault was told he deserved an immediate prison sentence, but suspended the 12-month term for two years because Wareing’s health was deteriorating and immediate prison would be “inappropriate”.

Wareing will also be supervised by the probation service.