Elderly Dunedin woman attacked at home

Ambulance officers found an elderly Dunedin woman bound and gagged in her home last night after she used her medic alert bracelet to call for help, police say.

Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said the ambulance was alerted to the Pine Hill property about 8.30pm.

An intruder had forced his way into the home of the woman, in her eighties, through a window and sexually attacked her, he said.

The victim was able to give police a detailed description of her attacker and a man was arrested at a Dunedin house about 1am today.

An 18-year-old man would appear in Dunedin Court today facing charges of burglary, abduction and sexual violation.

Mr Benn said police were examining the scene this morning and further charges could be laid.

The woman received medical attention last night, he said.

"It was a very traumatic experience for her."

- NZPA