A CARE assistant indecently assaulted an elderly dementia sufferer as he fed her in bed.

Michael Carson, 43, was jailed for six months yesterday after a court heard how he was seen "in the act" in the 77-year-old woman's room.

A colleague became suspicious over the time Carson was spending in the room during their daily rounds, washing and feeding residents, at the care home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Mark Giuliani, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court the female colleague looked in through a small viewing window in the door and saw Carson feeding the woman with one hand.

But his other hand was under the sheets making motions towards her "private area".

Mr Giuliani said the colleague could hear Carson making suggestive comments.

The colleague called another carer, who also saw him indulging in similar behaviour.

Mr Giuliani said they reported what they had seen and he was suspended.

Police were called, and Carson initially tried to explain away his actions, claiming his colleagues misinterpreted the scene.

Carson, formerly of Walker Drive, Woodhouse Close, Bishop Auckland, made subsequent admissions, and pleaded guilty to indecent assault at a previous hearing.

Tim Gittins, mitigating, said: "The circumstances of this are abhorrent, there's no other way to describe it.

"However, there was no indication what took place was under her clothing, it was simply under the blanket.

"Fortunately, although I accept it's a double-edged sword, she would have had no idea what was going on.

"It was an isolated incident. He had worked there for some time and there was no other suggestion or concerns about his behaviour."

Mr Gittins said Carson had become "sexually frustrated" after a "catastrophic upbringing".

He said he was the father and step-father of four children, but he no longer lived with his wife.

Mr Gittins added: "He's an inadequate individual and it was somewhat of a surprise that he had a job and was able to hold it down."

Jailing Carson, Recorder Neil Davey told him: "This offence was a particularly grave one, on a person unable to care for herself.

"She was in your care and you responded to that by abusing her. It was the grossest breach of trust imaginable, and there was no alternative."