Jessie Lauder was in her 80s when she was twice raped in her Newport home. More than 40 years later, police have a new lead.

The emotional grandson of Jessie Lauder say her family are clinging to hope that a new lead in her two horrific attacks back in the 80s will finally lead to justice.

Jessie Grace Lauder, was sexually assaulted twice in her own home, in 1981 and 1983.

The hunt for a cold case suspect who raped the same elderly woman two years apart has narrowed, police say.

Detectives say DNA advances and fresh information meant they could now say the attacker lived in the same western-suburbs neighbourhood where the attacks happened more than four decades ago.

Jessie Grace Lauder was 82 in 1981 when she was raped in the Mason St, Newport, home she’d lived in for 55 years.

Mrs Lauder, who had been widowed four years earlier, was in bed on September 22 when a man with a knife forced his way through a rear door at 10pm

The intruder confronted her and took her to another room where he sexually assaulted her.

When that ordeal was over, he rummaged through Ms Lauder’s purse looking for money before leaving and climbing over the back fence into a vacant lot in Oxford St.

On July 6, 1983, Mrs Lauder was in her lounge room when a man forced his way in through the front door about 9pm.

He forced her into the kitchen, police believe to check no one else was in the house, then sexually assaulted her in the lounge room.

The intruder, who wore gloves and a beanie, referred to the earlier attack and warned Mrs Lauder not to go to police.

Investigators say he used “items” to conceal his identity and wore work boots.

Police believe he lived in the area at the time and would have been known to locals.

Victoria Police say th hunt for the attacker has narrowed. Picture: file image

Holding back tears on Tuesday, Ms Lauder’s grandson Malcolm Lauder said her two sons had died without answers about who unleashed the two “horrific” attacks on their mother.

But Mr Lauder said his family held out hope her attacker would be brought to justice for assaulting her inside her own home.

“She was five foot nothing and somebody has gone into the sanctuary of her own home, not once, but twice, where she should be the most protected that she should ever feel,” he said.

“I cannot express the disgust I have for this person.

“This person has no decency.

“If we can just get that last piece that is going to clarify this for the police to be able to prosecute this offender, and bring them to justice, that’s really why we go through this.”

Mr Lauder said his grandmother was a “fiercely independent” woman who did not like to rely on others.

She bravely returned to her home after the first assault, refusing to let the violent assailant drive her out of her house.

But Mr Lauder’s mother forbade a “stoic” Ms Lauder from returning again after the second assault, too fearful of another incident, and she came to live with his family.

“She wanted to live her own life and not take anything from anybody,” he said.

Mr Lauder remembered his grandmother as a “special” and resilient woman.

“With all the things she went through, she never asked for anything from anybody and always looked out for other people,” he said.

“She lived through two world wars, she brought up two boys at the end of the Great Depression.”

Jessie Lauder was sexually assaulted twice in her own home just years apart. Picture: Liam Beatty

Mr Lauder recalled visiting her home on most Sundays as a boy, where they would enjoy party pies and sausage rolls together.

He said his grandmother was the reason he had developed a love for tomato soup, cupcakes and whipped cream.

Mr Lauder begged for the attacker or anyone with information about the assaults to bring to an end the decades his family has waited for answers.

“I would think that after they have been free, having perpetrated these heinous crimes, for 40 years, I would like to think that they’ve got a conscience somewhere,” he said.

“Police may not get you today, they might not get you tomorrow, they might not get you next week, but they’re never going to give up and they’re going to get you.

“Any perpetrator will be brought to justice. You can’t get away with this brutality, this lack of respect. You can’t do that and get away with it”

A $500,000 remains in place for anyone able to help police arrest and convict the attacker.

Detective Inspector Mark Burnett said investigators had been working through information, which led them to believe the offender lived nearby in the 1981-1983 period.

He said they wanted to hear from anyone who remembered a man matching the description who had lived on Mason, Johnston or Oxford streets or Lucius or Cunningham lanes.

“Though Jessie is sadly no longer alive, these brutal attacks have had enduring effects on her family,” he said.

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Jessie Lauder was in her 80s when she was twice raped in her Newport home. More than 40 years later, police have a new lead.