KEY POINTS:
A 39-year-old Auckland man accused of a series of "abhorrent" indecent assaults on an elderly woman between April and last month was released on bail when he appeared in court yesterday.
Police only found out about the attacks last week because the woman, 76, did not speak out earlier fearing she would lose her independence if her family found out and wanted to move her from her home.
Detectives investigating the case worry the man may have more victims and have called for anyone who has experienced similar offending to contact them.
"Attacks on our elderly are abhorrent," Detective Sergeant Sean Hyland-Mills of the Henderson CIB told the Herald.
"The low-lives of society do that and it's something that we treat with disdain."
The man was granted name suppression when he appeared to face four charges in the Waitakere District Court yesterday. Details including the name of his wife and children were also suppressed. He was granted bail despite police opposition.
Mr Hyland-Mills said the man, a home maintenance contractor, first went to the woman's Massey home in April.
In a series of visits which escalated in seriousness, it is alleged the man went back to finish what he told the victim was an incomplete cleaning job and indecently assaulted her.
Court documents reveal accusations that the man exposed himself to the woman, touched her and kissed her mouth some time between April 1 and October 31.
He also faces charges of burglary and assault with intent to sexually violate the woman from the most recent incident two weeks ago.
Mr Hyland-Mills said this, the final and most serious attack, was interrupted when the man was disturbed. He could not reveal more because the case was before the courts.
"The circumstances leading up to it give an inference of what was going to happen. I can't go too much into it," he said.
Police allege the man visited the woman another time but was deterred when he arrived to find she had visitors.
Police were told of the attacks last week and arrested the man on Sunday.
"She hasn't contacted us initially (due to) concerns about her personal freedom, thinking that if something happens she may be put in a safer place by her family. She likes her freedom," Mr Hyland-Mills said.
The woman was not injured in the attacks and was being assisted by Victim Support.
"She's doing well. Obviously we're doing the best we can for her."
"We're just taking the usual precautionary thing. If there are other victims, we'd like to hear from them."
Anyone who has experienced similar offending is asked to contact Henderson police on [09] 839 0600.
