A HANDYMAN has been given a community order after going into a woman's home and sexually assaulting her.

Martin Allmand, of Ger y Ddol in Llangollen, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday for sentencing.

The 62-year-old had previously admitted sexual assault, which occurred in May in the Wrexham area.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, said the victim was putting shopping away when she heard a knock at her front door.

She allowed the caller, Allmand, into the house and she noted he was "vague" as if he'd been on "drugs or had alzheimers."

The victim invited him to sit down, which he did before starting to scratch his groin.

She noticed his zip was undone, and he stood to ask her for a hug, which she refused.

But he grabbed both of her breasts and told her "they're firm," then reached round her waist and tried to lift her top.

She told him he was being inappropriate and he left, but not before leaving his details with an offer of carrying out work.

The assault had a profound impact on the victim, with her taking a number of steps to improve her home security and lessen the reminders of the incident.

She said she had "totally lost trust" in people and was left feeling "constantly on edge."

Andy Holliday, defending, told the Magistrates: "I wholly accept this is going to be a difficult sentencing.

"You have to balance up the facts, which are horrific, with the culpability - which is significantly diminished and reduced."

Mr Holliday said his client had a "neurological disorder" and had been diagnosed with an abnormality in his frontal lobe.

"In the last 12 months," he said, it has deteriorated rapidly to the state where he's not only extremely forgetful, he's childlike and unable to follow conversations - frequently going off on strange tangents.

"[The victim] felt Mr Allmand was suffering from some signs of Alzheimer's.

"She was clear there was something wrong with him and bizarrely he continued to engage her in conversation and writing down his name and number for her to contact him to do some work, which is another indication that there is a lack of understanding.

"He has worked all his life, has no convictions and is a man of previous good character."

Paul Rutt, chair of the magistrates, said: "It's fair to say that if you didn't have the condition you clearly have we'd be sending this to the Crown Court for a lengthy custodial sentence.

"However, your culpability is diminished significantly because of your condition."

The court imposed an 18 month community order with 50 rehabilitation activity days.

Allmand was ordered to pay £705 in compensation, £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

The court also imposed an 18 month restraining order and a five year sexual harm prevention order.

"I will never, ever contact her again," Allmand told the magistrates.