Man, 82, admits New Year assault on elderly woman

An 82-year-old man has admitted causing grievous bodily harm to an 81-year-old woman over New Year.

Terrence Clarke, of Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, had been charged with attempting to murder the elderly woman.

He denied attempted murder at a hearing in Aylesbury Crown Court on Tuesday, but admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutors accepted Clarke's pleas and Judge Jonathan Cooper said the attempted murder charge would lie on the file.

Judge Cooper remanded Clarke, who will turn 83 on 22 August, in custody and told him he would be sentenced on 17 July.

The judge said he wanted to look at "what happened" and "why it happened" and what "risk" Clarke posed.

Barrister Neil Moore, prosecuting, said the woman had spent a number of weeks in hospital.

Elizabeth Muir, for Clarke, said there was a "sensitivity" about the case.

Thames Valley Police had earlier told how the woman had been injured in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Police said officers were called to reports of an assault with injury at a property in Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, just after 00:40 GMT on 1 January.

They said the woman sustained life-threatening injuries.

Clarke had been due to go on trial 23 June.

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