AN 80-YEAR-OLD seriously ill man, who was found to have sexually assaulted three women, has been granted an absolute discharge by a judge.

But Mohammed Najeeb, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, was made the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders' register for the same period of time.

Najeeb, of Grasmere Road, Bolton, Bradford, was too ill to stand trial, but a jury previously found he had committed the acts alleged, after evidence from the three women victims during a hearing into the finding of fact.

Najeeb was found to have sexually assaulted the women – two in Peel Park, Bradford, and one at a shop in the city – on separate occasions on dates in 2012 and 2014.

His case was adjourned for inquiries to be made about adult social care, but his solicitor advocate, Anne-Marie Hutton, told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that inquiries with social services had not been successful.

Najeeb, who used a walking stick, was helped into Bradford Crown Court yesterday by members of his family, and allowed to sit in the public gallery for the sentencing hearing.

The court heard he had rubbed, touched, or held himself against his victims.

Prosecutor Sophie Drake said there were victim impact statements from two of the complainants and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was sought in one case. The other woman said she was no longer affected by the incident.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said a hospital order was not appropriate and there had to be a degree of compassion and understanding for a seriously ill old man but he said there must be a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The judge said: "Events are overtaking us. This isn't a punishing exercise, this is trying to protect everybody, including Mr Najeeb."

Judge Durham Hall was told Najeeb's family would supervise him constantly.

But he said: "If he's allowed to wander off - no favours. If he does anything, he will be arrested."

At the previous hearing, the judge had said the jury’s decision had given him the power to protect others, but Najeeb’s decline in health was such that he might not be a risk to anybody.