A teenager who sexually assaulted a 90-year-old bed-bound dementia patient after breaking into a care home has been jailed.

Reece Jones, 18, from Princes Risborough, was sentenced to six and a half years’ imprisonment this week after a court heard he went on an hour-long rampage, exposing himself to three women and assaulting the elderly woman.

The former chip shop worker, who lived in Woodfield Road, was found in bed with the pensioner by a care home assistant at about 3.45am on September 6, after he had climbed through a ground floor window at the property.

The victim – who was unable to communicate – has not been able to give a statement due to illness, but an investigation discovered Jones had locked himself in her room, removed her nightdress and pulled her on top of him.

He had earlier approached three women in Risborough – who were walking home after a night out – jumping out from a bush and following them as they walked, demanding to know which one wanted to ‘ride him first’.

Terrified, they called 999 and flagged down a passing car to flee the scene. It is believed minutes later, Jones broke into the care home and entered the pensioner’s bedroom.

Prosecuting, Kevin Barry told the judge at Aylesbury Crown Court: “He went to the victim's room. Exactly what happened it can’t be said. The victim is and was too ill to give a statement.

“One of the care workers was on the rounds at 3.45am and tried the victim’s door, but it had been locked. This was unusual as the victim could not get out of bed by herself.

“The care home worker saw the defendant lying on his back on the victim’s bed. He had lifted the 90-year-old lady on top of him. The defendant initially had his eyes closed. The care home worker poked him and he said, oh my gosh, and pushed the victim off him.”

Jones fled through a window, but was arrested later that day.

A statement from the pensioner’s son said he and his family had suffered “indescribable pain” as a result of the incident and the frail woman would have been unable to fight him off or even call out for help.

Defending, Neil Guest said: “He was just 18 at the time and clearly he shows remorse. The remorse is genuine and he is truly ashamed of what went on that night.

“He has been in custody for seven months and has made efforts to improve himself in that time.

“Before this incident, he was employed at a chip shop. His family is supportive and they have difficulty comprehending what went wrong.

“His mother noticed a difficulty with alcohol. Cannabis and drink will no longer be a part of his life, of that he is adamant.

“It was one hour of offending. This is a young man who will not trouble the courts again, he has learned his lesson.”

Addressing Jones, Judge Karen Holt said: “The victim’s son told the court his mother suffers from severe dementia and cannot communicate, so she was unable to explain what happened to her. She has been bed-bound for four years.

“His only comfort is that due to the severity of her condition, his mother is unable to recall what happened.”

Investigating police officers earlier described the attack as a “frightening ordeal”.

Jones was sentenced to six and a half years’ imprisonment for outraging public decency, trespass with the intent to commit a sexual offence, and for sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder.

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