A lecherous 91-year-old has narrowly avoided a prison sentence for indecent assaults on staff at a care home.

Thomas Mingins was warned by magistrates he would have been jailed but for his age and medical needs.

But he was told that if a similar offence happened again he would be sent to custody regardless.

Mingins, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, was sentenced to six months’ custody, suspended for two years.

Magistrates expressed concern that, even after the first assault had been reported, Mingins was still tended to by lone female careworkers.

This did not reduce his culpability, they stressed.

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 Mingins pulled down the zip of her top and put his hand over her breast while she was taking his blood pressure.

She told him not to do it but Mingins was said to be indifferent, saying: ’God help your husband.’

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

Another complaint emerged about Mingins’ behaviour on November 23 when another healthcare assistant was washing his feet and lower legs.

Mingins began stroking her hair and when she pulled away said: ’Can I tell you a dirty joke?’

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

The matter was said to have been reported internally at the time.

When spoken to by police, Mingins said he had no recollection of either incident.

A third indecent assault occurred when he was at Noble’s Hospital on February 9.

An assistant physiotherapist was helping Mingins use a zimmer frame when he reached out and grabbed her breast.

She pushed his hand away and he giggled.

Then as she helped him sit down he reached out again and grabbed her lower front private parts.

The woman pushed him away and told him he was ’out of order’ but Mingins responded by asking 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?’

As she left he added: ’See you tomorrow.’

Mingins now resides in the Reayrt ny Baie care home in Douglas.

Burden

Defending him in court, his advocate Stephen Wood said that there was a lack of options available for sentencing.

A probation report said he would be a burden on the prison.

Mr Wood said: ’He is a man with previous convictions, albeit some time ago.

’He is unable to mobilise himself readily.

’A complaintwas made in November.

’She tells her line manager and it would seem the response from the line manager is, "oh he’s a bit handsy".’

Mr Wood continued: ’He is in the best place he can possibly be.

’There is a big sign on his door saying "don’t go in singularly".’

Mingins was sentenced to two months’ custody for each of the three offences, to run consecutively, but suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.