A TELEVISION presenter whose dying wife was raped in a Buckinghamshire nursing home has criticised the judicial system which could allow her attacker to walk free.

John Archibald, of Wapseys Wood, Gerrards Cross, was convicted of rape four months ago but is waiting sentence, pending reports.

The woman's husband had expected 29-year-old Archibald to be jailed but instead learned at a court hearing on Friday that the convicted rapist could be cared for by social workers.

The furious journalist revealed that his wife's mother had died of shock when she read how her daughter had been raped by Archibald. Neither the victim nor her husband can be named for legal reasons.

However, the presenter could not contain his anger when the accused appeared for sentencing at Reading Crown Court on Friday. Judge Mary Jane Mowat was forced to adjourn the hearing for the fourth time after the defence said they were still waiting for reports which could result in Archibald being spared a custodial sentence.

Judge Mowat was told by Archibald's defence counsel, Andrew Turton, that Buckinghamshire Social Services department was putting together a package of assistance they could give.

He said they were looking at a hostel in which social services were Archibald's guardians.

Judge Mowat granted more time for a place to be secured at a hostel and for a guardianship order plan to be finally set out.

However, she added: "This is not a forgone conclusion. It has to be a care plan that satisfies me as appropriate and sufficient which is structured to address Archibald's particular characteristics."

The furious husband, said: "It turns out a man who committed the crime is being given all the care and the victim is still in a terrible state and suffering the effects of the attack.

"It is ironic that the same social services might end up paying for the care of my wife, the victim, and her attacker."

The husband added that victims should be given more say in court about the impact on their lives, when all the attention seemed to the focused on the defendant.

Archibald, who has a mental age of just nine years, attacked the middle-aged woman, who suffers from a degenerative brain disease, in February last year.

An appeal against his conviction has been lodged with the High Court.

The woman's husband, who visits his wife each day, said he had to go back to his family and tell them again that Archibald had not been sentenced.

He said the stress and strain on the family was starting to tell and his mother-in-law died of a heart attack just days after reading a transcript of the court case.

He said: "It's quite astonishing that 112 days after a sentence and the judge recalling everyone here, a new situation has arisen.

"He may now receive a non-custodial sentence instead of facing a life sentence for rape the second most serious charge in court.

"My mother-in-law died after reading the transcripts of the trial and understanding the severity of it."

Archibald denied raping and indecently assaulting the woman in February last year. The case has been adjourned until April 20.