A 69-YEAR-OLD man has admitted sexually assaulting another pensioner in broad daylight as she walked to church along a city street.

Malcolm Dearlove left his 79-year-old victim traumatised, Bristol Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

Dearlove, who cannot speak because his larynx was removed when he had cancer, also admitted cutting the hair of 32-year-old woman on a Bristol bus a few days before the attack on the churchgoer, which happened on East Street in Bedminster at 10.30am on New Year's Day.

Jeremy Oliver, prosecuting, said the 79-year-old woman heard 'rustling' behind her and became aware that someone was following her.

He said: "As she continued along the street she suddenly felt a hand go up the back of her skirt and felt it touch her buttocks.

"When she turned around a man backed away and smirked at her.

"She was stunned and shouted 'Dirty old man!' while he walked off.

"When the woman arrived at church she told other members of the congregation and broke down in tears.

"She was very shaken but not physically hurt.

"Her family encouraged her to report the incident to police."

Mr Oliver said the widow told officers she had felt violated, because her late husband was the only person she had been intimate with.

Dearlove, of Canada Way, Spike Island, was caught when a nearby shop's CCTV camera recorded him following the pensioner.

Mr Oliver also gave details of the other offence, which took place on December 27 at 1.30pm.

A 32-year-old woman boarded a 362 bus for Clevedon at Bristol bus station.

She sat two rows from the back and noticed Dearlove sitting in the seat opposite her. When the bus moved away, he moved to sit in the seat behind her.

In a statement to police the woman said: "I could hear him breathing heavily behind me.

"I had my hair down over my shoulders and started to feel quite uneasy.

"Then I felt someone touching my hair and heard a snip, like a pair of scissors.

"I turned around and asked him what he thought he was doing and saw some of my hairs on his leg.

"I felt scared, but then he stood up and got off at Long Ashton.

"When I got home I looked in the mirror and saw some of my hair was shorter than the rest – I felt shocked and scared."

The court heard the bus passenger reported the matter to police.

On January 2 she was at the bus station waiting for the same bus again when she saw Dearlove in the queue.

She told staff who called police and Dearlove was arrested.

The court heard the defendant had a previous caution for performing an act outraging public decency, which also happened on a bus, in May of last year.

Mr Oliver said Dearlove could not speak, as he had had his larynx removed after being diagnosed with cancer.

When questioned by the police, the court heard, he stated that he did not know why he had committed the offences and denied gaining any sexual pleasure from them.

With regard to the sexual assault he told officers he was "ashamed".

James Williams, defending, said his client needed psychological help.

He asked magistrates to order pre-sentence reports.

The case was adjourned until next month, when Dearlove will appear for sentencing.

He was released on conditional bail and must abide by a curfew from 7pm to 7am every day.