The family of an 86-year-old dementia-suffering great-grandmother installed covert CCTV in her flat, suspecting her carer, Andy Newman, of stealing from her. However, the footage revealed a far more shocking truth: Newman was sexually abusing the elderly widow.

The granddaughter had installed a motion sensor camera hoping to catch the 48-year-old stealing food and money. She was horrified when she received an alert on her iPhone and witnessed Newman committing a series of sex acts on her grandmother. The granddaughter stated, "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was wondering if I was seeing things. I wasn't expecting that. I couldn't sleep for three days after that, I had to go to the doctors. I was mortified."

Her uncle added, "We didn't really like the bloke but we didn't think anything like that was going on. We thought he was stealing, but not that. No one has ever really liked him but my mum did and he was good at talking to her. She wouldn't hear a word against him. He was very charming to her." He revealed that after Newman's arrest, his mother was distraught, crying and wondering when he would return, as the dementia had affected her short-term memory.

Philip Warren, the prosecutor, informed Swindon Crown Court that Newman, a former neighbor, had become the victim's carer after she was widowed in 2004. Before being caught in December 2015, he had begun visiting to assist with household chores, including washing her hair.

Concerned about missing money and food, the family installed the covert camera, which exposed Newman's actions. When apprehended on suspicion of rape, Newman told police, "I have done nothing wrong," and "I am her carer." In a police statement, he declared, "I believe these allegations to be false due to her dementia/mental condition," indicating his awareness of her cognitive impairment.

A search of Newman's computer revealed not only a vast collection of "granny porn" but also indecent images of children and one of bestiality.

Newman, residing in Stratton St Margaret, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a person with a mental impairment impeding choice, possessing indecent images of a child, and extreme pornography. He claimed that he had been in a sexual relationship with the victim six years prior to the offenses, a claim her family refuted.

Gareth James, Newman's defense attorney, stated, "He is clearly a man who has some sort of predilection towards older women." He mentioned that his client, who had attempted suicide before a previous hearing, understood he was facing a significant prison sentence.

Judge Tim Mousley QC sentenced Newman to ten and a half years in prison. He stated, "You know what you did on December 21, 2015, was completely disgraceful. She was unable to make an informed decision and that must have been as blindingly obvious to you as it was to everyone else. I accept it was not your intention that anyone else should see what was going on but the fact is her grandchildren, at least, saw what was going on by seeing it on the camera. The effect on them as well as the effect on the victim is profound and long lasting. That I regard as a particular feature of this which adds to your culpability."

Newman was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, barred from working with children or vulnerable people, and subject to a sexual harm prevention order limiting his freedom.