Elderly women attacked

POLICE were investigating two attacks on elderly women over the weekend after a 71- year-old was raped and an 80- year-old was punched in the face on her doorstep.

The 71-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint at her home in Daventry, Northamptonshire, in the early hours of yesterday. The rapist, said to be in his twenties, struck as his victim slept alone in her ground-floor flat.

A police spokeswoman said: 'It's not known at the moment if the intruder had intended to burgle the flat. He threatened her with a knife then raped her before leaving.' The woman was said to be extremely scared and distressed.

The 80-year-old woman was attacked on her doorstep yesterday morning when she answered a knock on her door in Shirley, Southampton. She was taken to hospital with severe facial bruising.

A 14-year-old was arrested and was yesterday being questioned by police officers.

A 17-year-old will appear at Camden Youth Court, London, today charged with the attempted murder and rape of an 84-year-old widow.

The woman was attacked in the Rochester Square area of Camden Town, north London, on 26 November. She was beaten and raped and left trapped in a wardrobe which was turned door-side down to the floor with furniture piled on top.

She was freed when a neighbour became suspicious about a smashed window pane and a light on downstairs and called the police.