AN ASSISTANT at a Suffolk care home has been jailed for sexually assaulting an elderly woman suffering from dementia.Brian Page, 60, of Dowes Hill Close, Beccles, was found guilty by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday of causing or inciting the woman to engage in sexual activity while she was in his care at a residential home in north Suffolk.

AN ASSISTANT at a Suffolk care home has been jailed for sexually assaulting an elderly woman suffering from dementia.

Brian Page, 60, of Dowes Hill Close, Beccles, was found guilty by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday of causing or inciting the woman to engage in sexual activity while she was in his care at a residential home in north Suffolk.

Judge John Bevan QC sentenced Page to 12 months imprisonment at the conclusion of the four-day trial and said he would be placed on the sexual offenders register for 10 years.

A former firefighter and college lecturer, Page was said to have been caught by the woman's son, who could not be named for legal reasons.

The court heard that her son opened the door to his mother's room quietly, so as not to disturb her if she was sleeping, and saw her sitting on the side of the bed with Page standing immediately in front of her. The woman's son demanded to know what was happening and claimed that when Page turned round he had covered his crotch with his hands and appeared to do up the zip on his trousers.

The woman's son had told the court Page was standing with his hands on his hips and bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet saying “like” and “nice”.

During the course of the four day trial, Page denied causing or inciting the 85-year-old victim to engage in sexual activity while she was in his care and knowing that she had a mental disorder.

Judge Bevan told Page: “This case is a tragedy for you and your family, particularly your wife.

“What was going on in your head I have no idea. You have brought shame on yourself and disgrace on a very long and hard-working career. I am conscious that in itself is a high price to pay but I would be failing in my duty if I did not mark this with a prison sentence. And I therefore make it a good deal shorter than otherwise would be the case, bearing in mind your age and health.”

Judge Bevan added he accepted from the evidence before the court no penetration had occurred but Page had been caught by the woman's son with his trousers down.

Page, who had worked as a carer for two years before the incident, had told the jury the woman's son had jumped to the wrong conclusion and that he was in fact trying to calm her down after an argument with another resident.