Accused attacker in same neighbourhood as victim

Noreen Roudon. Photo / Doug Sherring

A woman attacked while walking home from a train station has moved out of home because her alleged attacker has been bailed and is living just a street away.

Noreen Roudon, 26, was walking home in Henderson last Friday when a man allegedly grabbed her from behind.

"Gutsy" Roudon fought off her assailant by scratching his face with false acrylic nails she had just applied in preparation for singer Nicki Minaj's concert.

She had punched and kicked her attacker in the groin, forcing him to flee.

An unemployed West Auckland man, 26, turned himself in after CCTV footage was released to media. He appeared in the Waitakere District Court on Monday charged with assault with intent to facilitate indecent assault. He was granted interim name suppression and released on bail.

When the Herald on Sunday visited him at Hindmarsh St - an address obtained through court records - he was home. Hindmarsh St is just 750m from Roudon's home. The accused came outside but ran into the house when he saw the Herald on Sunday photographer. A woman, believed to be his wife, said: "How did you get this address? He does not want to speak to you."

Roudon has now moved to her partner's house in another suburb, because she was scared to live at home with her parents.

"I'm not sure whether I'd bump into him. It's freaky."

She was "gutted" authorities failed to mention the accused lived so close. "They told me his bail conditions, but they just said he lived in Henderson. "