A PARANOID schizophrenic raped a pensioner with dementia after breaking into her West Oxford home.

Daniel Smith, from Milton Keynes, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of burglary following the incident on December 1 last year.

The 23-year-old appeared in Oxford Crown Court yesterday and was described as having been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

His victim was an 84-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

She suffers from severe dementia and Anne Evans, prosecuting, said she would not have been able to come to court to give evidence.

At the end of last year, Smith broke into her house and subjected her to a sexual assault, which resulted in him being charged with rape. He also made off with jewellery, money and a mobile phone of unknown value.

Ms Evans said a psychiatric report had been prepared which stated the defendant had a serious mental illness.

She said: “His victim was a lady in her mid-80s who suffers from dementia.

“He broke into her home and stole her possessions, which were later found in a rucksack.”

She added that a second psychiatric report would now have to be created before the court could consider sectioning Smith on mental health grounds.

If the two reports reach the same conclusions, the court can make Smith the subject of a hospital order and a restriction order under the Mental Health Act 1983.

This would see him detained in a secure hospital to protect the public from serious harm.

The two orders could last for an indefinite length of time.

During the burglary, which took place in the early hours of a Saturday morning, neighbours reported hearing breaking glass and a disturbance inside the house in West Oxford.

Residents said police officers arrived at the house just after 7am and scenes-of-crime officers carried out forensic checks throughout the day.

The house remained cordoned off throughout the Saturday.

Speaking at the time, one woman who lived in the street, but asked not to be named, said the area had been shocked by the crime.

She added: “We’re very close to our neighbours, almost nosey around here. Everyone is in each other’s business, but this is such a huge shock.

“It’s a huge surprise to hear something like this has happened.”

It will take six weeks for a report to be prepared.

Smith will appear again at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, April 5.