Homeless Man Jailed For Raping 92-Year-Old Woman Using A Plastic Bag

A homeless man in Australia who broke into a 92-year-old woman's home and sexually assaulted her has been sentenced to prison.

Craig Anthony Wheatman, 29, received a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, Australian broadcaster ABC reported.

The Adelaide-born man admitted to charges of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated breaking and entering, sexually touching a person without a consent and two counts of common assault, among others.

Wheatman used a ladder to enter an elderly woman's Concord, Sydney, home via a bathroom window at around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 22, a report by newspaper The West Australian said.

Upon entering, he slapped the woman across both sides of her face and threatened her with a pair of shears.

The only words the elderly victim understood from Wheatman were "cut" and "money," according to 7News.com.au.

"The victim must have been shocked and terrified by the presence of the offender who was unknown to her and in her bedroom at night," New South Wales District Court Judge Donna Woodburne said.

Wheatman proceeded to commit "degrading sexual touching" against the woman. Afterward, he took an old plastic bag, placed it over his penis and raped the woman.

He reportedly used his strength to overcome the victim's attempts to move away during the encounter.

Following the sexual assault, Wheatman forced the woman into her shower and ran piping hot water over her. He also poured cooking oil, vinegar and Dettol hand sanitizer over the victim in an attempt to cover up the crime.

Wheatman later fled, but not before stealing the victim's wallet, keys, phone and medical alarm pendant, which was set off at around 2:10 a.m. after he escaped.

The alarm alerted the woman's family, who arrived around 90 minutes later.

Police, with the help of the alarm's GPS, tracked some of the woman's stolen items to a Burwood stormwater drain. The items were allegedly covered in Wheatman's DNA.

Wheatman was arrested on Jan. 24. He told authorities he had been "paralytic drunk" and could only remember leaving the house knowing he had "done something f*****g stupid."

His victim reportedly suffered numerous injuries including bruising, skin tears, a swollen knee, sore eyes and blurred vision caused by having chemicals poured onto her.

The court was not told of the woman's current condition.

Judge Woodburne described the victim's encounter as a "horrific and degrading attack."

Woodburne rejected any suggestion that Wheatman tried to be nice and kind to the woman in the shower, instead calling the act a "selfish and demeaning" effort to remove any DNA in the scene that he knew could implicate him.

Wheatman was also allegedly so rough with the woman that at one point, the victim thought her knee would break, court was told.

Additionally, Woodburne noted that the items stolen could have allowed the woman to call for help.

Despite all this, the judge said she did not want to impose a "crushing sentence" for Wheatman and wanted him to be provided "rehabilitation and reintegration into the community."

Woodburne took into account Wheatman's childhood involved significant disadvantage and abuse. The court also heard of his drug and alcohol abuse.

The judge sentenced Wheatman to a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, with a non-parole period of nine years and three months.

A 25% discount was applied on the sentence as Wheatman pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault as well as breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny.