17-year-old charged with rape

A 17-year-old labourer appeared at a special sitting of Hawera District Court last night charged with the rape of an elderly woman in her Taranaki home.

Police were called to the 74-year-old woman's home at 6.15am yesterday morning.

Less than six hours later, they arrested the youth, who has interim name suppression.

He was remanded in custody without plea until tomorrow on two charges of rape, one of unlawful sexual connection, one of assault with intent to commit sexual violation, one of burglary of the woman's house, and one of being unlawfully on a private property. The woman has now been released from hospital.