A JUDGE has put off passing sentence on a pensioner who sexually abused a child in Swindon in the early 1960s after hearing he has had a major stroke.

Rodnell Baker had already failed to turn up for an earlier hearing because he had forgotten what month it was.

But the 75-year-old is now in hospital in south Wales and will probably never be able to look after himself again, should he be discharged.

Baker, who lives in Swansea, admitted a charge of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 12 in Swindon between January 1961 and the end of 1965.

Mike Pulsford, defending, said the case 'clearly crossed the custody threshold' but he would be asking for a judge to be 'merciful' and suspend a jail term.

He said "His carer says he will never be in a position to look after himself when discharged from hospital."

As well as the stroke he said he is also suffering from a 'severe injury to his buttocks which started out as a bed sore'.

Despite the passage of time since the offence, he said his client admitted what he had done as soon as he was spoken to by the police, which is unusual in historic sex cases.

Judge Peter Blair QC, sitting at Swindon Crown Court, adjourned the case to Thursday, December 18 to get a prognosis on the defendant.

He said he was concerned that there was a victim who was awaiting for the final outcome of the case.

Baker had been due to face sentence on September 10, and when he wasn't at court Mr Pulsford phoned him at home.

He told the judge his client knew he was due to court on the tenth but hadn't realised it was already September.