Edward Fitzgerald from Dartford sexually abused dementia sufferers at a Bexleyheath care home

Churchgoer Edward Fitzgerald, 73, would never have been prosecuted had he not admitted his crimes because the victims did not know they had been attacked.

The married father, who has a previous conviction for molesting an eight-year-old girl in the 1970s, told church elders about his crimes at Parkview care home, in Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath.

They said he needed to show 'true remorse' before being allowed back in and so he repeated the account to his probation officer in 2010.

Inner London Crown Court heard the officer contacted police after Fitzgerald told him he had been unfaithful to his wife and had to confess to abusing the women, who were in their 70s and 80s.

Fitzgerald, of Whitehill Road, Dartford, admitted visiting three victims in their rooms once a week between May 2004 and September 2008.

Bosses at the home had previously warned Fitzgerald about his behaviour towards two other residents, in 2003 and 2008.

On the latter occasion he was caught in a locked bedroom with a resident.

Fitzgerald admitted putting his arm around them but claimed he was simply trying to comfort them when they were upset.

The churchgoer has recently told a probation officer he believed he was trying to give his sexual assault victims pleasure.

Judge Patricia Lees said Fitzgerald's motivation was "pure sexual gratification for himself".

Fitzgerald admitted six counts of sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder, relating to three different victims.

He also pleaded guilty to an indecent assault on a child under 16 between January 1975 and December 1976.

Fitzgerald was ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for life.