By Riley Walter
Police are hunting a man who allegedly sexually assaulted an elderly woman after offering to help carry her shopping and forcing his way into her home in Sydney’s west.
Sex crime squad detectives have released images of a man they believe can assist with inquiries into the alleged assault, which was reported to police on Tuesday evening.
Sex crimes squad detectives have released images of a man they believe can assist with inquiries into the alleged sexual assault of an elderly woman.Credit: NSW Police
Detectives allege an unknown man met the 83-year-old woman near Charles Mance Reserve in Merrylands about 12.30pm on Tuesday. The man, who was not known to the woman, offered to carry her shopping trolley home, police said.
When the pair arrived at the woman’s home, the man allegedly forced his way inside and sexually assaulted the woman in what sex crimes squad commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Rachel Fawcett, described as “abhorrent behaviour”.
“At that location, in a place she should feel safe, she was sexually assaulted,” Fawcett told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
“The man has approached her, has gained her trust, and then he has broken that trust by breaking into her home and assaulting her.”
The 83-year-old was taken to hospital for assessment and a crime scene was established at her home, with police launching Strike Force Bena to investigate the alleged assault.
Police allege the man stole the woman’s house keys and tried to clean the crime scene before fleeing. Fawcett said the woman had reported the alleged assault to a neighbour, who phoned police.
“It’s particularly appalling when the most vulnerable members of our community are preyed upon, and in a place they should feel safe, that they’re attacked,” Fawcett said.
“It shows a particularly abhorrent behaviour when you gain someone’s trust in that manner, and then you break it in this way.”
The man in the images is described as having fair skin, dark hair and a slight beard. He is wearing a black shirt with white panels, dark blue pants and white shoes.
Fawcett said police were confident the man would be identified. She urged members of the public to “help get him off the streets” and for anyone with relatives in the area to ensure they felt safe to report an assault.
Anyone with information about the alleged assault, which is being treated as an isolated incident, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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