A 77-YEAR-OLD dementia sufferer has been found to have sexually touched an underage girl 25 years ago following a rare trial of the facts.

Peter McMaster, of Old Orchard Road, Eastbourne, was ruled unfit to stand trial on allegations of indecent assault due to his dementia.

Instead a trial of the facts was held, and on Wednesday jurors at Hove Crown Court found he did do the acts complained of in two of the allegations.

Yesterday (Thursday) he was given a supervision order and told to sign the sex offenders' register for five years, as his victim spoke to The Argus about her trauma.

Defending McMaster yesterday, Julian Dale said: "He is a 77-year-old man. There has been a finding by the jury that over two days some quarter of a century ago he stroked a girl. The police have done a thorough investigation."

McMaster is living independently in Eastbourne despite his illness, supported by close family, the court heard.

His victim first went to police in 2013 and McMaster was arrested and charged before being ruled unfit to plead due to his dementia.

Speaking to The Argus yesterday, his victim said the abuse had cast a shadow over her life.

She said: "At first I did not understand what he had done was wrong. I did not tell anyone. I questioned myself all the time.

"I keep having panic attacks and it has been a very stressful time. Now I am seeing a counsellor.

"It has made me uncomfortable around children because I feel that how he has made me feel, I am going to make that child feel. Apparently these feelings are quite normal. It has affected my relationship with my partner."

A trial of the facts can be held in cases where the defendant is ruled unfit to plead.

Jurors are not asked to give a verdict but instead to decide whether the accused did the acts alleged.

The court cannot sentence but can make a supervision order, hospital order or absolute discharge.

Judge George Lawson-Rogers ordered McMaster to be supervised by probation for 12-months, saying this would allow probation to monitor his health condition and call upon social services or other agencies if needed.