Michael Martin, accused of raping Newport grandmother Jessie Grace Lauder, had lived across the road from her

A Hoppers Crossing father who allegedly raped an elderly woman in her own home more than 40 years ago had lived across the road from her, a court has heard.

Michael Martin, 69, has been charged over the historic rapes of elderly woman Jessie Grace Lauder in Newport.

A father who allegedly sexually assaulted an elderly widow in her own home, before returning two years later to brutally rape her, had lived across the road from the woman, a court has heard.

Horrific details of the historic sexual assaults were revealed in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday as accused rapist Michael Martin, 69, fought to be freed on bail. 

The Hoppers Crossing man was charged on Friday more than 40 years after he allegedly broke into the home of Jessie Grace Lauder in Melbourne’s west and subjected her twice to sickening sexual assaults. 

The court heard the grandmother was in her early 80s on September 22, 1981, when she was first violated inside her Newport home, where she had lived for 55 years.

Mr Martin is believed to have lived “directly across the road” from Ms Lauder on Mason St with his mum and siblings in the late 1970s, before moving 200m away to another address in Newport in 1979 with his wife.

Jessie Grace Lauder was attacked twice in her own home. Picture: Supplied

Detective Leading Senior Constable Richard Kelly told the court Ms Lauder was alone in her bedroom that September night when Mr Martin, who was in his 20s, allegedly appeared at her door, armed with a “carving knife” and wearing underwear on his head.

“He told her to pay him $10 and … that he wanted to have sex with her,” Constable Kelly said. 

Mr Martin, who became a father in the late 1970s, forced Ms Lauder into the dining room where he allegedly made demands of her, before sexually assaulting her as she lay on the floor. 

“She felt so frightened, she thought she should do what he said,” Constable Kelly said. 

“He kept saying it wouldn’t hurt if she gave him what he wanted.”

After the terrifying ordeal, the court heard Mr Martin rummaged through her purse looking for money.

“You won’t call police, will you?” he allegedly asked, before fleeing. 

Ms Lauder moved in with her family for a short time after the incident, but eventually returned to Mason St.

But two years later, on July 6, 1983, she would again be violated inside her home.

Ms Lauder screamed during one of the alleged attacks, a court has heard.

Constable Kelly told the court Ms Lauder was this time in her lounge room when she was allegedly confronted by Mr Martin, who had again broken in. 

He said Ms Lauder started to scream as she was told to undress and lie down.

“He threatened to kill her if she continued screaming,” Constable Kelly said. 

After Mr Martin allegedly raped the elderly woman, the court heard he threw a newspaper over her face as he dressed himself.

“Don’t tell the police and the papers like you did last time,” he allegedly warned her. 

Forensic samples were taken from Ms Lauder and the crime scene, but police were unable to identify a suspect. 

She died of natural causes in 1993.

The samples were stored at a lab for years, as police waited for the “advent” of DNA technology. 

Mr Martin was identified as a suspect in November 2022 after “familial” DNA analysis was conducted against one of the samples. 

However, Constable Kelly told the court police faced delays as they attempted to retrieve a DNA sample from Mr Martin himself.

Police arrested Mr Martin on Friday.

He has been charged with two counts of attempted aggravated rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated indecent assault, rape, burglary and common assault.

The court heard he has no criminal convictions.

In opposing bail, Constable Kelly said police believed Mr Martin could interfere with witnesses, including Ms Lauder’s grandson.

But his defence barrister Harry Redwood told magistrate Belinda Wallington this was a “speculative risk” and “not founded by any evidence”.

The court heard Mr Martin, a widower and a pensioner, was in remission for cancer and had lost his eldest son last year after he died in a chemical explosion.

Sporting a grey sweatshirt and beard, Mr Martin sat in the dock with his hand placed on his face as he listened to the evidence against him.

He will return to court on Thursday where he will learn whether his bid for freedom has been successful.