A former worker at a care home has been extradited from India to be charged with sexually assaulting a patient 18 years ago. 

Jossy Joseph has been brought back to the UK after Norfolk police sought an extradition order so he could be charged with the offence which dates back to 2005. 

The 54-year-old was employed at Swanton House Care Centre when he is alleged to have assaulted the vulnerable woman.

The home, at Swanton Novers, between Fakenham and Holt, cares for people living with mental health conditions, learning and physical disabilities, and dementia patients.

Norwich Magistrates Court heard he had left the country while the allegations were still being investigated by police and had subsequently been jailed for offences in Australia. 

He was returned to the UK this week and has been charged with intentionally sexually touching a woman, who was unable to refuse because of a mental disorder, between October 17 and 19 in 2005. 

Prosecutor Josephine Jones said: “The defendant was employed and he helped to look after the complainant in this case who, following a car accident, had suffered brain damage.

“The allegation is that he sexually assaulted her. He then left the country.” 

She told magistrates on Friday that he had been employed in a “position of trust” and the victim was “extremely vulnerable”.

Eastern Daily Press: The alleged sexual assault is said to have occurred at the Swanton Novers care home in 2005The alleged sexual assault is said to have occurred at the Swanton Novers care home in 2005 (Image: Newsquest)

Arguing the case was too serious to be heard at the magistrates court she said if convicted he could receive a possible sentence of several years in jail.

Joseph, who has only limited English, spoke only to confirm his name and age. 

Annette Hall, mitigating, said he would not be entering a plea to the charge at this stage. 

Magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered he be remanded to prison pending a pre-trial plea and review hearing at Norwich Crown Court on February 10.

Ms Jones said there were “substantial grounds” to believe he might flee the country again. 

“The defendant left the UK while this matter was being investigated," she said.

"He was understood to have returned to India, which is his home country, but he then emerged in Australia where he was arrested and received a custodial sentence.

“Before arrangements could be made for him to be extradited back to this country he left Australia and went to India.”