Rapist of elderly woman in court

A Wellington man who raped a 65-year-old woman in June can now be named.

He is Peter Niko, 40, of Johnsonville.

He pleaded guilty on Friday before Porirua District Court judge Jan Kelly to seven charges.

The charges included sexual violation, rendering the Waitangirua woman unconscious with intent to commit sexual violation, threatening to kill and detaining the woman with intent to have sexual connection with her.

The woman was alone in her Waitangirua home on June 17, just after 6am, when the man came to her door saying he was looking for his daughter.

The police began a door-to-door operation after the attack to find the perpetrator.

It was discovered he may have tried to talk his way into another house nearby before going to the eventual victim’s home.

His lawyer, Nick Chisnall, said the police summary of facts was largely accepted but there were still some unresolved issues.

The judge said the summary could be read at the next hearing She remanded him in custody until August.

As he was led from the courtroom, Niko called out ‘‘sorry’’ to people sitting in the back of the court.

Following the attack, Waitangirua residents, organised by Liz Makalio, rallied in support of the victim and presented her with a gift basket.