A CHINESE graduate with mental health difficulties committed a series of indecent assaults on four women over a three-week period.

Jiajun Wang carried out most of the offences at a time he was undergoing in-patient treatment at a County Durham hospital, in late April.

Durham Crown Court heard that although none of the women involved was badly affected by the incidents, in some cases colleagues had to intervene to drag the defendant away from them.

Ian West, prosecuting, said police were not informed at the time, but several weeks later, after Wang was released from hospital he carried out a similar attack on a woman attending an NHS conference at a Darlington hotel.

Police were informed this time and when interviewed he made denials to most allegations or said he could not recall the incidents.

But he admitted the hotel assault, saying he “fancied” the woman assaulted.

Wang, 34, of Newton Hall, Durham, admitted six counts of sexual assault.

Paul Abrahams, mitigating, said reports by two psychiatrists recommended the defendant should receive mental health treatment , managed in the community.

Judge Simon Hickey said they were unpleasant incidents but it was fortunate the women involved appeared to have responded “stoically”.

He imposed a seven-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with an order that Wang should receive mental health treatment as recommended, as an out-patient in the community.

Wang was also made subject of registration as a sex offender for ten years.