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Elderly woman sexually assaulted by man in lift of her apartment
complex in South Yarra, Melbourne
(HTM) Source
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The elderly victim of a sexual assault inside the elevator of her
Melbourne apartment has spoken out about the terrifying ordeal as
police appeal for help to find the offender.
The woman, aged 85, returned home to her apartment complex on Simmons
St, South Yarra on April 1, and was followed into a lift by a young
man about 2pm.
**WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Victoria Police search for man over alleged
exposure and sexual assault.**
Police say the man, aged in his early 20s, propositioned the woman for
a sexual act and offered her money.
He then assaulted her before exiting the lift on level 10.
The woman left the lift on the next level, where she was again
confronted why the man who had run up a flight of stairs.
He sexually assaulted the elderly woman a second time before running
away.
Detective Senior Constable Andrew Turton said the man had entered the
apartment building by walking closely behind someone else who lived
there.
The offender then waited in the foyer for about 45 minutes before
"selecting" his victim.
"Concerningly it appears as though he's waited for a period of time in
the foyer," Turton said.
"It's not an opportunistic thing, it seems to be a targeted attack."
The woman, aged 85, spoke about her ordeal on Wednesday. Credit: 7NEWS
The fact the offender has been at loose in the community for the past
month is a "monstrous concern" to police, Turton said.
He said detectives have worked "tirelessly" to find the man but no
leads had so far proved fruitful.
The victim, who was not identified, spoke on Wednesday about the
ordeal.
She said she pushed the offender away with her walking frame the
second time he confronted her.
"I cried 'Help, someone help'. A lady opened the door and gave me a
telephone. I ... called police but he said 'I'll come back and kill
you'," she said.
The elderly woman said she was now scared to be in the elevator by
herself and wants to move out of the building.
She said she felt "all the time stressed ... shocked, stressed".
Turton said it is believed the offender either does not live in the
area or may be a new resident.
Police have released footage of a man they wish to speak to over the
incident. Credit: Victoria Police
Police have released footage of a man they wish to speak with in
relation to in the incident.
He is believed to be Asian in appearance, about 180cm tall, with
short, shaved black hair and unkempt facial hair.
He was seen wearing a black hooded jumper with the word "Jordan"
written on the back, black pants and black sneakers.
"This offending doesn't stand up in the community," Turton said.
"It's our role to protect the community from people like this."
Anyone with any information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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