Taxi Driver Richard O'Brien Sentenced for Elderly Woman's Sexual Assault

A taxi driver has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a 94-year-old woman in a care home.Richard O'Brien, aged 58 from Cumbria, was convicted of abusing his elderly victim after concerns arose about his frequent visits to see her. He was caught on camera committing the assault, which occurred after he gained access to the care home via the intercom system. The assault was described as degrading and committed over a prolonged period.Det Cons Carolyn Willacy stated the victim was a "kind and gentle lady" who suffered "degrading assaults over a long period of time." O'Brien pleaded not guilty initially but changed his plea to guilty on the morning of the trial, which caused further distress to those involved. He was convicted of three charges of sexual assault and one of fraud. O'Brien was sentenced to two years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.Police revealed that O'Brien had also withdrawn over £4,000 from pension payments following his uncle's death. He resides on Dunmail Drive in Carlisle.