The 30-year-old man is charged with four counts of aggravated break and enter, commit a seriously indictable offence after his arrest at the woman’s Armidale home about 6am yesterday.

Police allege the man was affected by alcohol when he entered through an unlocked back door and sexually assaulted the 62-year-old woman before falling asleep.

The woman, was able to run outside her home and alert a passer by who contacted police.

When police arrived they arrested the man and established a crime scene.

New England Local Area Command Detective acting Sergeant Mark Rogers said the woman did not know her alleged attacker.

He described the incident as “a disturbing act that left the victim quite traumatised” and alleged it was sexually motivated as nothing was stolen from the home.

“She (the victim) is quite upset in relation to the incident,” he told Fairfax this morning.

Police refused the man bail and he is expected to front court some time today.