In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a 76-year-old woman experienced a terrifying awakening as a man allegedly assaulted her in her sleep. The suspect, 31-year-old Hayden Carl Skinner, is accused of the crime in Coffs Harbour, a town located on the northern coast of New South Wales.

Skinner, known to be a drug user, reportedly entered an aged care facility by climbing a fence, traversing a courtyard, and sliding open the unlocked door to the woman’s room on January 1, 2024.

As his trial began today in Coffs Harbour’s District Court, Skinner confessed to breaking into the room but denied the charge of aggravated sexual assault.

His defense attorney, Peter Pearsall, argued that Skinner’s actions were not driven by a desire to harm but rather by financial desperation. Pearsall explained to Judge Michael McHugh that Skinner was struggling with a drug debt, which placed him under immense pressure to find money quickly.

Public defender Peter Pearsall said his client had no intention of sexually assaulting anyone but was rather 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.

Skinner allegedly raped the victim, who was in the centre because of poor physical health rather than for any mental health conditions.

He is accused of removing her pants, underwear and incontinence pad before sexually assaulting her.

The alleged victim was found by a nurse outside her room naked from the waist down, crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell SC told the court.

Skinner’s DNA was found on the woman’s pants which police located on the floor near her bed, he said.

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, Campbell said.

She had also made rape claims to the aged care centre’s nurses, a paramedic, another resident and her son, he told the court.

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.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028