A man has been charged following an investigation into a series of terrifying home invasions in Sydney’s west, including two in which he allegedly sexually attacked two elderly women.
Emmanuel Benjament, 18, was arrested at 5.45pm on Monday after he attended Dee Why Police Station.
A picture circulated by police of the alleged offender after two women, aged in their 80s, were sexually attacked during a string of break-ins in Merrylands.Credit: NSW Police
In a statement, NSW Police said he was taken to Manly Police Station and charged with 16 offences, including three counts of aggravated break and enter, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent, and one count of inciting another to sexually touch them without consent.
Police say between 2am and 6.20am on March 6, several homes on Elsinore Street, Grace Crescent, Davies Street and Norma Place in Merrylands were allegedly broken into.
Police allege at one of the homes, the man produced a knife and attempted to sexually assault a woman, while at a second property he sexually touched another woman.
This follows a manhunt after a resident in one of the homes managed to film the alleged intruder, giving police a vital lead in the investigation.
Following inquiries and a public appeal for information, police raided a home in Merrylands at about 1pm on Monday, seizing a number of items.
Benjament, who is a resident of Merrylands, appeared before Manly Local Court via videolink on Tuesday. He made no application for bail and bail was formally refused. He will face court again on May 1.
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