Police horrified by alleged sexual assault of 92-year-old woman in Concord

The identity of a man charged with what cops have called one of the most appalling crimes they’ve seen in 30 years has been revealed in court.

The identity of the man who police allege was behind one of the “most appalling” Sydney crimes in decades has been revealed in court.

Craig Anthony Wheatman has been charged with sexually assaulting a 92-year-old woman in the city’s inner west over the weekend in an incident that has left the woman’s family and police shaken.

Mr Wheatman did not wish to appear on screen before Burwood Local Court on Monday after spending the night in custody and standing charged over the horrific attack.

Police allege he broke into a home at Concord about 2am on Saturday before physically and sexually assaulting the elderly resident, stealing her wallet and cash and fleeing.

Craig Anthony Wheatman, 28, did not appear when mentioned at Burwood Local Court on Monday.

During the incident the woman activated her emergency medical alarm, which alerted her son, who attended the residence and contacted emergency services.

Burwood police officers arrived at the home on Burton Street soon after and launched an investigation.

After allegedly being at large for more than a day, Mr Wheatman was arrested at Homebush by specialist sex crimes detectives on Sunday afternoon.

Footage of the arrest shows the 28-year-old sitting shoeless and handcuffed in the gutter on Station Street before being led into the back of a police wagon.

A man was arrested on Sunday afternoon over the alleged sexual and physical assault of elderly woman in Sydney’s inner west. Picture: NSW Police

Police allege the 28-year-old injured the woman during the attack.

He has been charged with break and enter, assault and sexual assault offences.

Court documents allege the Strathfield man performed sexual intercourse on the elderly woman without her consent to “intentionally inflict” harm on her between 2am and 3.45am.

Speaking to 2GB on Monday morning, Detective Acting Superintendent Chris Burwood said police were overwhelmed by the crime.

“It was a very, very confronting scene … when you're dealing with the most vulnerable members of our community, to see something like this is probably one of the most appalling things I’ve seen in 30 years of policing,” he said.

The elderly woman was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for injuries, including cuts and bruises, before she was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Police say she was too disoriented to be interviewed on Saturday but has since been released from hospital to her family.

Craig Wheatman did not apply for bail in court.

He will next face court in March.

Detectives from the State Crime Command’s child abuse and sex crimes squad established Strike Force Nelumbo with Burwood Police Area Command to investigate the incident.

Following inquiries, Mr Wheatman was arrested at 5pm on Sunday.

He was taken to Burwood police station and charged with aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence, aggravated sexual assault/inflicting actual bodily harm on a victim, sexually touching another person without consent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Wheatman was refused bail and did not apply for release in court on Monday.

Superintendent Goddard praised the joint efforts of NSW police teams.

“I’m pleased to say (the woman) is doing remarkably well considering the circumstances,” he said.

“It was an outstanding team effort from all parts of the NSW Police Force. From general duties officers responding, through to local detectives at Burwood, through to forensic examiners who attended, analysed and processed the crime scene, through to my investigators at the child abuse and sex crimes squad.”

Mr Wheatman will next appear in court on March 13.