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A cross dressing army veteran tried to rape an elderly cancer patient after delivering medication to her.

Dennis Reed, 69, of Sydney Street, Colchester, faced a string of charges as he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today (Monday, April 24) for sentencing.

Between August and September 2018, the court heard how Reed was responsible for delivering medication to his victim who was suffering from cancer.

Over the course of six weeks, Reed, who cross dresses, had established an element of trust with his victim and even helped her with her banking and finances.

The indictment in full Count 1- Attempted rape Count 2- Sexual assault Count 3- Sexual assault Count 4- Sexual assault Count 5- Common assault

He obtained a key to her front door and cut himself a duplicate for his own use.

“He began visiting daily- something that became unwelcome as his behaviour became increasingly sexualised with periods of aggression,” prosecuting lawyer Stephen Rose told the court.

He told her she would 'do as she was told'

On one occasion, the victim was sat in her armchair when Reed grabbed her by the wrists and told her she had “lovely t***.”

The terrified victim kicked out and told him to leave her alone.

She then described another occasion when Reed was masturbating and he encouraged her to touch him.

When she told him she didn’t want to, he became irritated and told her she would “do as she was told”.

The most serious incident occurred when he wanted her to give him oral sex, pulled her hair back and forced her towards him.

When she once again declined to take part, he slapped her on her bottom and the court heard how he had also once slapped her in the face.

Reed also brought sex toys to the victim and said he wanted to come dressed as a woman and have “rampant sex” with her.

On September 20, the victim told her hairdresser about some of the things she had experienced and after seeing bruises on her bottom, the concerned hairdresser rang the police.

He was arrested on September 21 and his property was searched where officers found sex toys.

His mental disorder did not play a part in his offending

Reed was interviewed a day later on September 22 where he denied the allegations in a prepared statement and answered no comment to further questions.

The 69-year-old continued to deny the charges and pleaded not guilty on October 22 saying it was consensual and even claiming the victim was lying.

However on February 26, the case was re-arraigned and Reed pleaded guilty to all five counts.

The court heard how Reed had been married for 45 years until 2017 when he became widowed and since then came out as bisexual having what Judge David Turner called a "colourful sexual past."

Speaking in court, Dr David Baird confirmed that Reed had depressive disorder and had been in Edward House in Broomfield's Linden Centre where he received treatment.

He recommended to the judge that Reed requires psychological treatment in the confines of a hospital in order to “explore his thoughts towards sexual relationships.”

“It seems that the mental disorder did not play any part in his offences,” he told the court.

“I think that the treatments would be better carried out in a hospital situation and it would be a long term. He would not be discharged anytime soon.

“In my view it’s important that he has the opportunity to be tested out in the community whilst still a hospital patient under a restriction order.”

Judge David Turner however said he found it difficult to decide on what the best form of sentence would be, calling the crime “serious, grave sexual offending.”

'You should feel thoroughly ashamed'

Mitigating lawyer Frank O’Toole told the judge that two experts had recommended that he would be given a section 37 hospital order rather than go into custody.

“This is a difficult case. This man is mentally unwell and his likely to be in that position for some years to come,” he told the judge.

“You are 69 years of age, an ex-soldier with 25 years’ service and no previous convictions.

“Your victim had grown to trust you, you gravely abused that trust. You began to take physical and sexual advantage of her and you became sexualised and aggressive.

“You threatened and bullied her you told her to do as she was told, you pulled her hair and on one occasion you tried to put your penis in her mouth, something she refused following which you struck her in a striking motion to her bottom.

“She was a vulnerable person, this occurred in her home, she was someone who was reliant on other you took advantage of her. She described how you would change and become angry.

“I feel nothing but sympathy for your victim she should not have went through what she did and her victim impact statement makes for painful reading.

“She has bad dreams, she feels isolated, unsafe and panicky. She suffered emotional turmoil, her quality of life has been diminished. You should feel thoroughly ashamed. She’s not the person she was before this unpleasant exchange.”

Judge Turner imposed a section 37 hospital order, meaning Reed will be under supervision in hospital for an indefinite period of time until it is deemed safe for him to be released.

He will also be on the sex offenders register for life.