A 25-year-old man who sexually assaulted a girl in Wandle Park has been sent to hospital under the Mental Health Act.

Ermias Gebermoiryim, an Ethiopian national, was arrested last summer after assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the park on Saturday, July 12.

Police first charged him with rape but the charge was later dropped and changed to causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

It is understood the homeless man, who has since been diagnosed with schizophrenia, arrived in the UK five years ago as a refugee.

He is reportedly among refugees to have survived the perilous boat crossing from Libya to Sicily, before being smuggled into the UK via a ferry travelling from Calais to Dover.

Appearing at Kingston Crown Court this afternoon, he was given a hospital order and a restriction order under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act.

Judge Judith Coello said: "It's necessary for the protection of the public from serious harm for me to make that order in your case."

She added: "Your counsel will explain to you about certain legal requirements that are in place about you notifying the police about your whereabouts and other matters when you are released into the community."

Gebermoiryim has been sent to Newton Place, a mental health hospital where he has already started treatment since being taken into custody.

At an earlier hearing on December 19, he was found unfit to enter a plea.