An ambulance and stretcher were needed to bring a paedophile suffering from osteoarthritis to court.

Colin Wray, of Gorham Drive, St Albans, was due to be sentenced for a number of sex offences he committed on a girl starting in the late 1970s, when she was just six years old.

The 60-year-old was delivered to the front of St Albans Crown Court in Bricket Road by ambulance and brought through the doors on a stretcher.

In court a prostrate Wray, wearing a green cardigan and covered in a blanket while flanked by two ambulance staff replied “I am” when asked to confirm his name.

The former delivery driver pleaded guilty previously to ten counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child and making indecent photographs of a child.

Today he admitted another charge of gross indecency with a boy.

He denied allegations of sex assaults on another young girl around the same time.

Reluctantly the judge adjourned sentencing because Nichola Cafferkey, who has represented Wray throughout, was unable to attend due to illness.

Emma Reed stepped in as a late replacement for the defence and asked for an adjournment which received no objection from Heather Shimmen, prosecuting.

Judge Stephen Warner said: “It is one of those things that happens.

“It is everyone's interest that these cases are dealt with as soon as possible, but at the same time it seems to me important that in a case of this seriousness he is represented by counsel fully conversant with this case.”