THE child victim of a Bradford man whose dementia stopped him standing trial "simply wanted to be believed," the detective leading the enquiry has said.

Graham Summers, 61, was found by a jury at Bradford Crown Court to have committed three offences of gross indecency and two of indecent assault against the eight-year-old child 35 years ago.

Summers, who was working as a steward at the then Norfolk Gardens Hotel in Hall Ings, Bradford, developed dementia after his victim, now 42, made her complaint to the police.

She was molested by Summers when she was staying at a house in Little Horton, Bradford.

Summers, of Thornaby Drive, Clayton, Bradford, was found by two psychiatrists to be unfit to stand trial because of memory loss owing to dementia.

But a hearing took place on Thursday that determined he "did the acts complained of".

He was given an absolute discharge and the judge made a Sexual Harm Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning him from contacting his victim.

The woman Summers abused went to the police in 2013 after she read of convictions related to historical offences and "built up the courage to come forward."

After the case, Detective Constable Dean Palmer, from the Protective Services Team, said: “The victim was fully updated throughout the trial and was made aware of the limitations and restricted options that were available to the court in this case.

“We would like to thank her for the bravery she has shown in coming forward and reporting these historical offences to the police.

“She simply wanted to be believed and, whilst the outcome was not ideal, we hope it will give her some comfort.”