Police say 99-year-old sexually assaulted

Fresh charges laid against the Palmerston North man accused of assaulting a 99-year-old woman in her home reveal a sexual element to the attack.

Glen Patrick Walsh was arrested and charged with burglary last week but will face charges of indecent assault and male assaults female, when he appears in the Palmerston North District Court today.

The victim's age and distress levels were the reasons for the delay in pressing the new charges, police spokeswoman Kim Perks said.

"The woman is 99 years old and she's been through an ordeal," Mrs Perks said.

"While we have spoken to her every day, her health had to be taken into account."

The victim has been in Palmerston North Hospital since the attack; it is not known if or when she will return home.

The Manawatu Standard understands the woman fended off her attacker for 10 minutes before police arrived at her Rangiora Avenue home on November 13.

She received cuts and bruises during the attack, but was in a stable condition, Mrs Perks said.

- © Fairfax NZ News