Horrific details emerge about how Brett Anthony Crawford allegedly raped a 90-year-old woman after breaking into Bateau Bay, NSW aged care home

A man has been arrested after allegedly breaking into an aged care home and raping an elderly woman - as police reveal he was out on bail for several serious offences.  

Brett Anthony Crawford, 34, who is also known as Brett Ralph, allegedly broke into the facility in Bateau Bay, on the NSW Central Coast, about 12.40am last Wednesday.

Once inside, he allegedly assaulted and sexually assaulted a 90-year-old woman who was not known to him. 

Police will allege he used bedding to silence the woman's 'cries for help' and pinned her to the bed with such force he 'tore the skin' on her arms. 

He then allegedly sexually assaulted her before stealing some of her belongings and fleeing the scene. 

The woman allegedly suffered 'extensive injuries' to her arms and legs but managed to alert staff. She was then rushed to hospital in a serious condition. 

Police were called to the aged care home and immediately set up a crime scene. 

The State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad promptly set up Strike Force Easterbrook to investigate the incident. 

Two days later, detectives raided a property at The Entrance about 9.20pm and found electronics, SIM cards and clothing.

The items were seized to undergo forensic examination.

Following further inquiries, detectives attended a Caves Beach home about 7.30pm on Monday, where Crawford was arrested while allegedly attempting to flee from police.

Police will allege Crawford ran out of the back door then jumped a fence to evade officers, sustaining minor injuries to his arm in the process. 

He was taken to hospital for treatment.

On his release, he was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with several offences. 

They include aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-use violence, inflict actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse with victim, aggravated sexual assault – break and enter with intent, and aggravated sexual assault – inflict actual bodily harm on victim.

He was refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Tuesday. 

Police will allege Crawford was on bail for several serious offences at the time of the alleged incident.

Sex Crimes Squad commander Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said the alleged incident was 'extremely sad' and her heart went out to the woman, her family, and all the other residents of the facility. 

'It is horrendous that any person in the safety of their home would [allegedly] be attacked like this, but to [allegedly] attack a defensive old lady is beyond belief,' she told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. 

Supt Doherty said the woman was 'very traumatised' by the alleged incident and is in the care of family as she recovers.

She said police will allege the woman suffered extensive injuries during the course of the assault.

'As you can appreciate, being elderly, her skin has torn where pressure was applied,' she said.  

Supt Doherty said the alleged attack appears to be random and the aged care facility has since beefed up its security measures.

'So far we haven’t been able to find out any connection between this male, the aged care facility and the woman prior to the commission of this (alleged) offence,' she said.

'All we can assume is that it was an opportunistic incident. 

'A lot of security was in place and since this incident they’ve actually hired extra security to make sure their residents feel safer, and they’ve done a safety risk of the facility to upgrade wherever possible.’