Serial abuser who carried out more than 200 sexual attacks on boy avoids jail because of his DEMENTIA

An 86-year-old child rapist has avoided a lengthy jail sentence because of his age and poor health.

Derek Desmond Butt carried out more than 200 sex attacks on a young boy over a seven-year period, Swansea Crown Court heard.

But because the pensioner has dementia, he was deemed unfit to face a full trial and instead underwent a "trial of facts".

In a trial of facts, the defendant cannot put forward a defence and there can be no verdict of guilty and no sentence can be passed.

The most that can be imposed is a hospital order, a supervision order or the defendant's absolute discharge.

The process involves witnesses giving evidence so a jury can decide if the defendant is guilty of what he or she is accused of.In Butts trial of facts the jury later found 21 allegations against him were proven.
He told Butt: You are now 86 and, in the twilight of your life, youve lost your good name.
She told an earlier hearing: My son later told me he kept quiet for so long because he thought it was normal as it had been happening to him from such a young age.