A 91-year-old care home resident has been convicted of three indecent assaults after admitting groping staff members breasts and private parts.

Thomas Mingins, of Reayrt Ny Baie Care Home in Douglas, admitted three counts of indecent assault on an adult and will be sentenced on July 26 after a probation report has been completed.

Mingins appeared in court in a wheelchair and was accompanied by a healthcare assistant.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how Mingins had record dating back to 1992 for similar offences.

On January 17, Mingins was a resident at the Corrin Home in Peel when a complaint was made against him by a healthcare assistant.

The woman said she was taking Mingins’ blood pressure and putting an oxygen monitor on his finger when he pulled down the zip on her top and put his hand over her breast.

She was upset and told him: ’Don’t ever do that again.’

But Mingins was said to have been indifferent to what he had done and replied: ’God help your husband.’

She asked him to apologise but he refused and the matter was reported to police.

Complaint

Another complaint was made about Mingins’ behaviour on November 23 by another healthcare assistant at the Peel home.

The woman said that she was helping him wash his lower legs and feet when he began stroking her hair.

She pulled away but Mingins asked her: ’Can I tell you a dirty joke?’

The woman said ’no’ and Mingins then put his hand in the front of her tunic at stomach level.

When spoken to by police about this incident Mingins said he had no recollection of the incident and didn’t know any of the staff’s names.

Mingins committed a third indecent assault at Noble’s Hospital on February 9.

An assistant physiotherapist was helping Mingins as he used a zimmer frame when he reached out and grabbed her breast. She pushed his hand away and he giggled.

As she helped him sit in a chair he reached forward and grabbed her lower front private parts and the woman again pushed him away.

The physio told Mingins he was ’out of order’ but he then asked her if she would sit on his lap until lunchtime.

He told her: ’I was in the Navy for 40 years, what do you expect?’

She backed away and left as Mingins said: ’See you tomorrow.’

Defence advocate Stephen Wood requested an adjournment to allow time for a probation report to be prepared on his client.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with conditions that Mingins contact probation and reside at the Douglas care home address.