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16
Feb
Sharow man, 85, handed absolute discharge over sexual assaults
An elderly Ripon man has been sentenced for sexual assault.
A jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Harold Covell, 85, committed two acts of sexual assault following a fact-finding trial.
A fact-finding trial takes place when a defendant is deemed unfit to stand trial.
Both offences occurred at Ripon Spa Baths, where it is understood Covell, of Glebe Meadow in Sharow, worked as a scuba diving coach.
The baths closed in 2021.
Covell was listed as a director of Scuba Diving For All Ltd on Companies House, but the company was dissolved in August 2023.
He was handed an absolute discharge for the offences last Monday (February 9).
An absolute discharge means a defendant is not handed a direct punishment but they still receive a criminal record.
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