THREE terrified women feared they were going to be raped as a man with mental health problems carried out a "bizarre" series of early morning attacks.

Philip Wood, 36, who had a child with him during the spree, confronted two of his victims in their own homes, while the third was opening the family shop, all in Darlington.

Wood was only arrested after police arrived at the home of his third victim to find him upstairs shouting at the hysterical woman.

Durham Crown Court was told officers arrested him after a struggle during which one of them was injured.

Wood, of Church Close, Ripon, was said to be suffering a psychotic illness at the time and had left his home that morning "seeking help".

He admitted two charges of indecent assault, one of assault with intent to resist arrest, and one of criminal damage, at a previous hearing.

Yesterday, Judge Denis Orde said such offences would normally merit a lengthy prison sentence, but after reading three psychiatric reports and two probation service reports on Wood, he passed an indefinite hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act.

Wood will be treated at a special unit within Harrogate Hospital until it is considered safe to release him into the community on a supervised regime.

Mark Styles, prosecuting, said all three incidents took place in neighbouring streets, either side of 6am on July 28 last year.

One woman answered a knock at the door and was indecently attacked by Wood, who only left after a struggle.

He tried to drag the second woman into a back alley as she opened her shop, but after she fought back he again made off, and in the third incident he forced a door to gain entry to another house.

Police were called and, on arriving at the house, they found Wood upstairs shouting at the woman. He became agitated and was only arrested after a struggle in which Sergeant Mark Ralphs was injured.

Ian West, for Wood, said he has received treatment for mental health problems, and his bizarre behaviour was the result of him suffering hyper-manic episodes.

"When he's not ill he represents no danger of offending. He went out that night searching for help from someone he met from a religious sect."

Mr West said that with medication the problem was "treatable and controllable".

Sentencing Wood, Judge Orde said: "It's not much comfort to the victims to say he would not have done this if he had been well.

"These women suffered a terrible ordeal. It was degrading, humiliating, embarrassing and terrifying, normally far too serious to justify a non-custodial sentence.

"Perhaps the most telling factor is that you have been mentally disordered most of the last five years, hospitalised for much of the time, and also spent 11 months in custody in hospital. Doctors consider they can control your condition.

"Clearly, your behaviour that night was a result of your medical affliction rather than any culpability."

Last night, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, the campaigning police chief superintendent turned Home Office advisor, said the safety of women and other victims must be paramount when considering the release of such offenders.

"I know it's something that is being looked at by the Home Office, but it may be a case of keeping them in hospital for quite some time until the experts are happy they will not re-offend."