Hayden Carl Skinner has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the aggravated sexual assault of a 76-year-old resident at an aged-care facility in Coffs Harbour on New Year's Day in 2024. The sentence was handed down in the District Court after Skinner was previously found guilty following a judge-alone trial. He will be required to serve a non-parole period of eight years and will first become eligible to apply for parole in February 2032.
The court heard that Skinner broke into the aged-care facility during the early hours of January 1, 2024. Prosecutors argued that he entered the victim's room and sexually assaulted the elderly woman, who was living in the facility due to declining physical health and cognitive issues. The victim later died from causes unrelated to the assault and cannot be identified for legal reasons.
During the trial, Skinner denied the sexual assault allegations and claimed he had entered the facility intending to steal valuables to repay a drug debt. He told the court that a struggle occurred after the woman discovered him inside her room and alleged that she initiated physical contact. However, Judge Michael McHugh rejected that account, finding it implausible given the victim's age and physical condition. The court accepted the prosecution's evidence, including DNA findings and injuries consistent with the assault.
Evidence presented during the proceedings included testimony from a nurse who was working at the facility that night. The nurse described hearing a frantic scream and responding to find the distressed resident seeking help. The woman immediately reported that she had been raped by an intruder who had entered her room. The nurse's evidence formed an important part of the prosecution case.
In sentencing, Judge McHugh described the offence as a serious example of aggravated sexual assault, highlighting the significant age difference between the offender and the victim, as well as the fear and trauma experienced by the elderly woman. The court noted that the assault had a profound emotional impact on the victim in the days following the incident.
Defence lawyers argued that Skinner's difficult upbringing, drug addiction, homelessness, mental health issues and childhood trauma should be considered during sentencing. The court acknowledged those circumstances but found that the gravity of the offence required a substantial prison term. Judge McHugh also noted concerns about Skinner's lack of insight and remorse, factors that reduced confidence in his rehabilitation prospects.
The case attracted widespread attention across New South Wales because of the vulnerability of the victim and the fact that the crime occurred within an aged-care facility, a place expected to provide safety and protection for elderly residents. Authorities said the sentence reflects the seriousness with which courts treat offences involving elderly victims and sexual violence.
