A 74-YEAR-OLD Cam man accused of committing sex offences since suffering a stroke may need further psychiatric assessment before any trial can take place, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

One psychiatrist has concluded that although Michael Webber is mentally well enough to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges against him he is not fit to be tried.

Webber, of Draycott, Cam, has already spent time being assessed at Charlton Lane hospital in Cheltenham but his solicitor Sarah Jenkins said today that a psychiatrist now believes he should return for further assessment and is preparing a report to that effect.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC remanded Webber back into prison custody pending further psychiatric developments and extended custody time limits to February 2, next year.

There are two sets of charges against Webber of indecently assaulting women.

One relates to a period of time he spent in Wotton Lawn Hospital, Gloucester, where staff were allegedly assaulted by him.

Judge Tabor commented that Webber had spent only a limited time in Charlton Lane for his first period of assessment because he was considered to be a danger to female staff and patients.

Webber is accused of sexually touching women aged over 16 between May and June, this year. He is also alleged to have indecently touched a girl under 14 in April and he faces a third charge of common assault in June.

At an earlier hearing the court was told he had suffered a stroke at the end of 2013 and the alleged offences have all occurred since then.

Ms Jenkins said at an earlier hearing "I have the gravest of concerns about him being able to go into the witness box and give evidence. I just don't see how that is going to be possible."