EXCLUSIVE
A grandmother who police say was raped in her sleep in a retirement home before her death had only just celebrated her 90th birthday.
Disturbing new details emerged as angry residents of the Uniting Nareen Gardens retirement home in Bateau Bay on the NSW Central Coast decried the center’s inadequate security.
The grandmother, Kate*, was allegedly attacked by Brett Crawford, 34, who police say broke in in the early hours of November 15.
Crawford then allegedly used bedsheets to silence her cries for help as he held her to the bed and raped her twice. Police allege he used so much force to hold her down that he tore the skin on her arms.
He then allegedly stole some of her belongings and fled the scene before police found and arrested him five days later.
The woman managed to alert staff and was rushed to hospital, but after fighting for life for almost two weeks, she tragically died on Tuesday.
The woman celebrated her 90th birthday on November 5, just ten days before the alleged attack.
Pictured: the Uniting aged care facility in Bateau Bay, where Kate was allegedly attacked. A black fence runs along some parts of the site, but there is a huge gap along the northern edge
Pictured: the row of apartments in Nareen Gardens where Kate lived. Her unit was at the end of the block, under the satellite dish on the right
Police allege she was attacked in the aforementioned unit on November 15
A resident of the center told Ny Breaking Australia the facility was poorly managed and there were not enough safety measures in place to protect residents.
While a tall black fence wraps around the corners of the facilities, there is a huge opening along the northern edge of the site, allowing completely open access for pedestrians.
The man said that when residents raise concerns, “no action is ever taken” and that security guards should have been patrolling the site long ago.
“They don’t care,” the man said.
‘They said they were going to increase security, but they don’t. I’ve been here for 12 months now and I’m starting to see it for what it really is.
“This whole thing stinks.”
Another man said the nursing home had questions to answer about how the alleged crimes could have unfolded under their watch.
He said staff had started installing new security doors on some units, but it should not have taken a tragedy for the center to introduce safety measures for older residents.
“It shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
‘It’s so sad what she did [allegedly] went on.
The facility is accessible via a sidewalk that runs along the northern edge of the site
“All the other women are now afraid it could happen to them.”
A Uniting spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia they had not received any complaints ‘of this nature’ in recent times.
“We are in constant contact with our residents, their families and carers to ensure they are aware of anything that may relate to their specific home, and how Uniting is responding,” the spokesperson said.
‘We encourage our residents to communicate with us openly, through their daily interactions with our staff, or through their families and caregivers, so that we can be aware of and respond to our residents’ needs and suggestions as they arise .
“Ultimately, our focus is always on the care and wellbeing of the people who call a Uniting residence ‘home’ and how we can make it as comfortable, supportive and safe as we can.”
On Tuesday, Deputy Nationals leader and senior opposition spokesperson Bronnie Taylor revealed in Parliament that Crawford had served a lengthy prison sentence for a very similar attack in 2011.
Speaking under parliamentary privilege, Ms Taylor raised the accused rapist during an adjournment debate in the Legislative Council to call for a review of the way the first case was handled.
“I have the great privilege of being a member, as do all of us in this place, and that privilege gives me a voice to give to those who do not, and tonight… I intend to use it,” said Mrs. Taylor. .
“I’m going to speak tonight about a horrific incident that took place.
‘Crawford, who then went by the surname Ralph, was jailed for up to 10 years and seven months in 2013 for a similar sexual assault on a woman in her Bateau Bay home.
‘That incident took place on January 30, 2011.
‘Crawford had been at a party at a home and was told to leave, but later that night he broke into that house again, which was in Bateau Bay like the nursing home.
‘He held a knife to a woman before sexually assaulting her.
Police will allege Crawford tore the skin on the woman’s arm due to the force he used to hold her down
Pictured: a signpost outside Nareen Gardens Lodge. Nareen Gardens is one of three aged care villages on the grounds of the Uniting aged care facility.
“After raping the woman, Crawford stabbed her in the face.”
Parliament heard Crawford was initially charged with nine offences, which were reduced to a single charge of grievous bodily harm after he reached a plea agreement.
However, the NSW District Court judge took into account a number of other charges during sentencing proceedings, including committing an act of indecency and three charges of assault by an act of indecency.
Ms Taylor called for an investigation into the way authorities handled Crawford’s case more than a decade ago to determine whether there were any shortcomings.
‘What happened here to this woman [Kate] is despicable, but what’s even more alarming is: should this have happened in the first place?’ she said.
“We need a justice system that is in line with the values and expectations of the community because this defines us and who we are and the morals that we live and adhere to.”
Two days after the alleged attack on Kate, detectives raided a property at The Entrance two days later and seized electronics, SIM cards and clothing.
Crawford was arrested three days later at a home in Caves Beach while allegedly attempting to flee the property.
He suffered minor arm injuries when he ran out of the house and jumped a fence, and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Crawford was later charged with aggravated burglary and committing aggravated criminal violence, causing actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse with the victim, aggravated assault – burglary with intent, and aggravated assault – causing actual bodily harm victim.
He has been denied bail and is due to appear in court in February.
*Name has been changed