Man, 85, was cathedral sex pest

An 85-year-old man who regularly followed young boys into toilets at St Paul's Cathedral has been given community and supervision orders.

Alexander Rossi was arrested after behaving suspiciously in the cathedral crypt, Southwark Crown Court was told.

Police saw him follow a child into the gents and commit offences involving a teenager and another youngster.

Rossi, of Woodford Green, north London, claimed ill-health meant he was innocent, but a jury found him guilty.

They convicted him of two counts of voyeurism and one of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

'Serious sexual harm'

He had claimed that medical problems meant he could not have been physically aroused in the way police had described.

Prosecutor Henrietta Paget said: "In spite of his medical condition it is quite clear what he was doing on this occasion."

Passing sentence, judge Stephen Robbins told him: "You have previous convictions of a sexual nature but you are now 85 years old and in poor health, so I can temper justice with mercy and implement the recommendation in the pre-sentence report."

He gave him a 12-month community order with a requirement he should not enter any public convenience.

"This is for the protection of the public from serious sexual harm. In addition, you will be subject to a 12-month supervision order," he said.