A neighbour who grew up opposite an elderly woman has been accused of breaking into her home and raping her about 40 years ago after advancements in DNA testing.
Michael Martin was aged 26 when he is first accused of the attempted rape of Jessie Grace Lauder in 1981, when she was 81, and then aged 28 when he allegedly raped her again in 1983, a court was told.
The Hoppers Crossing man, now 69, applied for bail at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday where details of the alleged crimes were aired.
Sexual crimes squad Detective Richard Kelly said Martin grew up in a home 45 metres across the road from Ms Lauder's, on Mason Street in Newport.
Martin then moved about 200 metres away from Ms Lauder, to nearby Oxford Street with his wife.
The detective said DNA evidence from the two alleged sex attacks was preserved by police forensics until advancements were made to DNA testing.
In 2022, he said the samples were tested and a familial match was found, which led them to Martin.
He was not arrested and charged over the incidents until January 24, which Det Kelly said was due to delays in comparing Martin's DNA with the sample.
He said a number of other items seized from Ms Lauder's home in 1983 had been sent off for forensic testing.
Martin has been charged with two counts of attempted aggravated rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated indecent assault, rape, burglary and common assault.
Det Kelly alleged, in September 1981, Ms Lauder heard a loud bang at the back of her home and then saw Martin standing with a knife at her bedroom door.
Martin was wearing gloves, had a pair of underwear over his head and told Ms Lauder to pay him $10 for sex before he tried to rape her, the detective said.
"She felt sick, and so frightened, she felt she should do as he said," he told the court.
Martin allegedly told her "you won't call police will you" as he left over the back fence, Det Kelly said.
The second alleged sex attack happened in July 1983, when the detective said Ms Lauder heard a smash of glass from the front of the house before she was confronted by a man.
Det Kelly alleged Martin raped Ms Lauder and then said: "Don't tell the police and papers like you did last time."
Martin's lawyer applied for his client to be released on bail due to health issues including cancer treatment and diabetes, likely delays to the case and because Martin had no criminal history.
"There’s no evidence to suggest he's led anything but a blameless life in terms of criminal convictions before the court," defence lawyer Harry Redwood told the court.
But prosecutor Olivia Sparrow objected to Martin's release on bail as she said there was a risk he may contact Ms Lauder's grandson.
He was the first person told about the crimes and will be a key witness, she said, after Ms Lauder died in 1993.
Magistrate Melinda Wallington adjourned the bail application to Thursday.
