A care assistant is beginning a 12-month prison sentence for sexually assaulting an 83-year-old hospital patient.

Michael Kelly, 50, had denied touching the woman's breast and pushing her while working at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

A jury at Lewes Crown Court took just 40 minutes to find him guilty of sexual assault and assault by beating.

Passing sentence, Judge Richard Brown told Kelly: "You abused the trust that is placed in every person that is privileged to care for vulnerable people in society."

He will automatically be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years. The judge also banned him from any paid or unpaid role as a carer.

Kelly was working at the hospital with agency Allied Health Care, when he assaulted the woman who was recovering from a fall.

She said he complemented her on her figure and massaged her breast under her hospital gown as he helped her to the toilet at the hospital's Vallance Ward on February 22, 2006.

Kelly had denied touching her inappropriately.

The patient, who cannot be named, described how he pushed her and banged his hand on her Zimmer frame, calling her a "silly old cow", when she tried to shake him off.

Judge Brown sentenced him to a year in prison for the sexual assault and three months for assault by beating, to run concurrently.

During the two-and-half day trail the jury heard how a patient at Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, had complained about Kelly's behaviour when he worked there for a day in 2005.

A nurse from that hospital described his behaviour as "inappropriate" and "unprofessional".

The jury heard Kelly had received just three days' basic training for his job as a care assistant.

Kelly, of Langdale Road, Hove, had no previous convictions and has been unemployed and living on benefits since the allegation was made.

Closing the case for the prosecution, barrister Henrietta Paget told the jury: "This is a man who enjoys the power his position gives him over patients and exploited it."

After the verdict Det Con Mark Pinder told The Argus: "I think it's a very positive day for the family and justice has come through, especially in the light of somebody who has clearly no remorse or care about what he did.

"He has had 16 months now since he was interviewed about the matter and this trail has put a tremendous strain on the victim which was clearly shown in court during her cross examination.

"Over the last year she has had a stroke and her health has clearly deteriorated. A case like this where her account was subject to dispute by the suspect is not a thing a woman of 84 would want to contend with.

"Let's just hope she can live the rest of her live content to know justice has been done."

A spokesperson for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals said: "We are very sorry that a patient was subjected to this terrible ordeal by someone who was employed to care for her.

"The healthcare assistant involved was employed through a reputable agency which is on an NHS approved list because they have all the proper procedures in place for checking their staff.

"As soon as this allegation came to light we took prompt action and he was removed from the hospital immediately. We have fully co-operated in the inquiry and the court case that has resulted in today's conviction."