The elderly woman seriously injured after being attacked in her Palmerston North home overnight is 99-years-old, police have revealed.
Officers were alerted to her plight after neighbours in Rangiora Avenue, Roslyn, reported hearing screams about 2am. Inspector Michael Coulter, of Palmerston North police, said it was understood that the woman awoke to find an intruder in her house.
She was taken to Palmerston North Hospital with arm and leg injuries and was still being assessed by doctors this morning. A 20-year-old man was arrested a short time after the attack. Charges have not yet been laid.
Cases like this were "incredibly rare," said investigating officer Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan.
"Hopefully it is reassuring to the community that we have made an early arrest."
