Christopher Coombs, 39, did not apply for bail during a brief appearance in Port Kembla Local Court on Tuesday morning and it was formally refused.

Court documents revealed Coombs was on parole after serving prison time for four separate offences and has multiple convictions on his record for acts of violence.

He is accused of forcing his way into a Gwynneville home in the early hours of Monday morning, hitting a 77-year-old woman on the head with a bedside lamp and sexually assaulting her.

The woman managed to call emergency services around 3.45am.

She was found with serious head injuries and taken to hospital for treatment.

Police established a crime scene and carried out a forensic examination of the house, allegedly locating Coombs' fingerprints on the headboard of the woman's bed.

He was arrested at the nearby home he shares with his mother less than four hours later and charged with aggravated sexual assault, inflict grievous bodily harm with intent and special aggravated enter dwelling house.

In court on Tuesday defence lawyer Matt Russoniello said Coombs appeared to have some mental health problems and asked the court to recommend that he been admitted to a prison psychiatric hospital.

The case will return to court on September 2.

Source: Illawarra Mercury