A HORRIFIED mum spotted a pensioner groping her 12-year-old daughter in the reflection of her highly polished fridge door.

Old soldier David Harrod thought he was out of sight in the next room when the woman spotted him pawing at the child's breasts and backside

The woman was keeping an eye on the 71-year-old as she had suspicions he had been molesting the girl.

But after being told he had never done anything like it before and was a carer for his disabled wife, a judge has imposed a suspended sentence.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the old man was visiting family friends when the incident happened in February last year. The mum had become concerned about his behaviour, so she kept an eye on them.

"He was alone with her in the room but mother could see in through a reflection on the high gloss polish on the refrigerator," Mr Meeke said.

"She saw him reaching out towards her, groping her breasts and his hand went on her bottom, fondling her bottom.

"He may have actually been reaching round for her vagina. She did not see his hands under her clothing.

"She went in and challenged him. She said 'I saw you'. After a while he burst into tears, he apologised and said he would not come back to their house."

He was arrested and when he was questioned by the police later that day he told them it had been a 'silly mistake' and regretted what he had done.

When Harrod, of The Croft, Urchfont, first appeared before the court he pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault.

The case was set down for trial but brought back before a judge where he changed his plea to a single charge.

Prosecutors dropped the other two charges, which relate to similar allegations when the child was between the ages of nine and 12.

Robin Shellard, defending, said his client had never been in any trouble in the past 70 years, had made toys for orphanages and was decorated during his time in the army.

"It is a decoration he has sent back to the Queen such is his shame," he told the court.

He said he had two sons who also served in the forces, one losing a leg and the other being injured by shrapnel.

Mr Shellard said his client cares for his wife, who has restricted mobility because of arthritis.

Passing sentence Judge Peter Blair QC said: "You touched her in a sexual way which gives rise to you having pleaded guilty.

"We don't know what consequences that will have on her in the future but it is something that will not be able to be deleted from her memory and her experience, and you are responsible for that and it may be harmful, for a long time hence, before she moves on."

He imposed a 15-month jail term suspended for 18 months with 20 days of rehabilitation.

Harrod must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and his liberty is restricted by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.