An elderly woman who was allegedly raped and physically assaulted by a complete stranger in her retirement home has died in hospital.
The 90-year-old woman suffered “extensive injuries” to her arms and legs after a man allegedly broke into her room at a retirement home in Bateau Bay, on the NSW Central Coast, about 12.40pm last Wednesday.
She was rushed to hospital with serious injuries and died on Tuesday morning, almost a week after the alleged attack.
Brett Anthony Crawford, 34, also known as Brett Ralph, has been charged after allegedly breaking into the facility and attacking the elderly woman.
Brett Anthony Crawford, 34, also known as Brett Ralph, has been charged after allegedly breaking into the facility and assaulting the elderly woman (he is pictured)
Police will allege he used bedsheets to silence the woman’s “cries for help” and pinned her against the bed with such force that “the skin on her arms tore.”
He then allegedly sexually assaulted her before stealing some of her belongings and fleeing the scene.
The woman managed to alert staff and was rushed to hospital in serious condition.
The State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad immediately set up Strike Force Easterbrook to investigate the incident.
Two days later, detectives raided a property at The Entrance at around 9.20pm and found electronics, SIM cards and clothing.
Following further investigation, detectives attended a home in Caves Beach around 7:30 PM on November 20, where Crawford was arrested as he allegedly attempted to flee.
Police allege Crawford ran out the back door and then jumped a fence to avoid officers, suffering minor injuries to his arm.
He was taken to hospital for treatment.
After his release, Crawford was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with several crimes.
This includes serious burglary and committing serious criminal violence, inflicting actual bodily harm with the intention of having sexual intercourse with the victim, serious sexual assault – breaking and entering with intent, and inflicting serious bodily harm to the victim.
Police allege that Crawford was already out on bail for several serious offenses at the time of the alleged incident.
After further investigation, detectives went to a home in Caves Beach around 7:30 PM on Monday, where Crawford was arrested while allegedly trying to flee from police.
After the attack, Chief Inspector Jayne Doherty of the Sex Crimes Squad said the woman was ‘very traumatised’ by the alleged incident and was in the care of her family.
‘It’s terrible that someone in the safety of their home would do that [allegedly] being attacked like that, but [allegedly] Attacking a defensive old lady is beyond belief,” she told reporters at a news conference last week.
Supt Doherty said the alleged attack appeared to be random and the aged care facility has since strengthened its security measures.
“The only thing we can assume is that it was an opportunistic incident,” she said.
“There was a lot of security in place and since this incident they have even hired extra security to make their residents feel safer, and they have taken a security risk to upgrade the facility where possible.”
The woman’s family has asked for privacy as they grieve.
As the investigation progresses, a report will be prepared for a coroner.