In a deeply troubling case that has come to light, a 76-year-old woman was discovered in a state of distress, screaming and partially undressed, in the corridor of an aged care facility. The incident, which took place in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, has led to the arrest of a man accused of sexual assault.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Hayden Carl Skinner, reportedly has a history of drug use and resides in the same town. According to court proceedings, Skinner allegedly breached the aged care home’s security by scaling a fence in the early hours of January 1, 2024. He then traversed a courtyard and entered the unlocked room of his alleged victim.
Testimony presented in Coffs Harbour District Court on Monday included accounts from a registered nurse working at the facility. The nurse recounted discovering the elderly woman in a state of panic, attempting to enter another resident’s room. She was visibly shaken and expressed that she had been assaulted.
“She was screaming and very distressed,” the nurse testified. “She told me there was a man who came into her room and raped her.”
‘She was screaming and very distressed,’ he said.
‘She told me there was a man who came in inside her room and raped her.’
The 76-year-old told the nurse her assailant was a ‘big, tall, black man’ who had been wearing a stocking over his head and a hoodie.
He positioned her on the bed, took off her clothes and covered her mouth while swatting her hand away from her buzzer, the court was told.
Hayden Carl Skinner (pictured) allegedly broke into a Coffs Harbour aged care facility and sexually assaulted an elderly woman in the early hours of New Years Day 2024
Skinner was arrested by police three days after the alleged rape
‘She said that “I forgot to lock the door, it’s my fault, I’m very sorry, it is my fault” and she kept crying,’ the nurse said.
Skinner has admitted breaking into the 76-year-old’s room but pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated sexual assault.
Public defender Peter Pearsall said his client had no intention of sexually assaulting anyone but rather was motivated for financial reasons.
‘He was a drug user, he had a drug debt, and he was under pressure to satisfy that debt,’ he told Judge Michael McHugh, who is hearing the trial without a jury.
Police bodyworn footage taken hours before the alleged rape was played to the court showed Skinner affected by drugs or alcohol speaking with two officers who had seen him stumbling near the road.
He claimed to have had low blood sugar but admitted going earlier to a known drug spot in Coffs Harbour.
Officers found a sealable bag suspected to contain marijuana plus a dirty needle in his pockets.
Hours later, he allegedy raped the victim, who was in the centre because of poor physical health rather than for any mental health conditions.
Skinner (pictured during his arrest) has spent the last two years in custody as he awaited trial
He is accused of removing her pants, underwear and incontinence pad before sexually assaulting her.
He then fled the scene.
Skinner’s DNA was found on the woman’s pants which police located on the floor near her bed, crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell SC told the court.
When examined at the Coffs Harbour Base Hospital, the 76-year-old was seen with bruising to her inner thighs and an abrasion to her genital area.
This was consistent with her legs having been forced apart, Mr Campbell said.
She had also made rape claims to a paramedic, another resident and her son, he told the court.
Mr Pearsall disputed the claims of rape, saying that when his client entered the room, the 76-year-old woke and grabbed him.
There was a struggle without sexual contact before Skinner escaped, he said.
Police found the 31-year-old’s palm prints on the scene and he was arrested on January 4, 2024.
He has been on remand since.
The 76-year-old had since passed away due to causes unrelated to the alleged sexual assault, Judge McHugh heard.
The trial continues.
