Michael Martin granted bail over alleged sexual assaults of elderly neighbour Jessie Grace Lauder

A man who allegedly broke into the home of elderly neighbour Jessie Grace Lauder in the early 1980s and sexually assaulted her twice, two years apart, has been granted bail.

Michael Martin, 69, has been granted bail over the historic sexual assaults of elderly woman Jessie Grace Lauder in Newport.

A man accused of brutally raping his elderly neighbour in her own home, two years after he allegedly subjected her to a sickening sexual assault, has been granted bail.

Michael Martin, 69, walked free from the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after he was charged last week over the “terrifying sexual attacks” dating back more than 40 years.

The Hoppers Crossing man was a young father in the early 1980s when he allegedly broke into the home of Jessie Grace Lauder in Melbourne’s west and sexually assaulted her twice, two years apart.

Horrific details of the alleged offending against the widow were revealed in court on Tuesday as the accused rapist fought to be freed on bail.

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.

Michael Martin leaves the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on bail. Picture: Laura Placella

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.

Jessie Grace Lauder was allegedly sexually assaulted twice in her Newport home in 1981 and 1983. Picture: Supplied

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, according to police, she would again be violated inside her home.

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.

Ms Lauder died of natural causes in 1993. Picture: Supplied

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.

Michael Martin is escorted by police after his arrest over the alleged sexual assaults of his elderly neighbour in the early 1980s. Picture: Supplied

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 and is in remission for cancer.

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”.

Ms Wallington agreed, finding on Thursday there was “no basis” for the assertion that the accused is a risk of interfering with witnesses.

“I am persuaded that there is a compelling reason to grant bail,” she said.

Mr Martin his his face as he left court. Picture: Laura Placella

Mr Martin, a widower and a pensioner, sat in the dock as he learnt his bid for freedom had been successful.

He was ordered to live at his home in Hoppers Crossing and not to contact witnesses for the prosecution.

He hid his face with his sweatshirt and refused to answer any questions after he was freed from custody.

Mr Martin will return to court on April 4 for a committal mention.