A woman who sexually assaulted an 89-year-old pensioner after breaking in to her Hackney home has avoided jail – because a judge deemed it would “only cause more chaos” if she went to prison.

A woman who indecently assaulted an 89-year-old pensioner after breaking in to her home has avoided jail, because a judge deemed it would “only cause more chaos” if she went to prison.

Michelle Griffiths, 44, of Mount Pleasant Hill, Upper Clapton, left the woman “shocked” after the attack in her Hackney home.

The victim had to give evidence against Griffiths at a five day trial last month at which she was found guilty.

As she was told she could leave the dock, Griffiths apparently suffered a seizure and had to be given first-aid in the court.

Sentencing last Thursday at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge Stephen Dawson told Griffiths, who pleaded not guilty, that an attack on an elderly lady was “very serious”.

“It looked to me that the victim was a pretty doughty lady and she had got over some of the shock of it and the effects on her, thankfully, were less than it could have been on someone of her age,” he said.

“You richly deserve a prison sentence but you have quite substantial medical and psychiatric problems of your own and if you were sent to prison there would only be more chaos.”

He added: “The sexual assault involved you touching a very elderly lady in her home by entering her home and touching her sexually.

“It is a curious offence because of the difference in age between you both and there are no convictions in your record of this kind, though there are numerous street offences.

Griffiths was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years.

She will be on tagged curfew from 8pm to 6am for 60 days and has been ordered to stay at least 30 yards from her victim or her victim’s home.