In an attack that police have described as “appalling”, a 28-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly invading the home and physically and sexually assaulting a 92-year-old woman.
The man charged with the crimes, Craig Anthony Wheatman, allegedly broke into the older woman’s home, assaulting her and leaving her covered in cuts and bruises on her face and body.
Acting Commander of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, Chris Goddard, described the alleged attack as “probably one of the most appalling I’ve seen in 30 years of policing”.
“Horrendous crimes, some of the most heinous crimes in the Crimes Act, have been committed against this poor defenceless vulnerable member of our community,” he said.
Police were called to the 92-year-old’s home just before 4am on Saturday morning when she used an emergency medical alarm during the attack. The alarm alerted her son, who called emergency services once arriving at her home.
Wheatman allegedly physically and sexually assaulted the woman before stealing her wallet and cash and fleeing the home.
Left with cuts, bruises and other injuries, the woman was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She has since been discharged into the care of family members.
After being arrested by police in Homebush just around 5pm on Sunday, Wheatman was taken to Burwood Police Station where he has been charged with a series of offences including aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence with people there, aggravated sex assault inflicting actual bodily harm on a victim, sexually touching another person without consent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He did not apply for bail, and bail has been formally refused.
