An elderly woman is recovering after a sickening sex attack inside her Claremont home over the weekend.

The 70-year-old was attacked by a man who followed her into her home on Saturday around 1.30pm, as she returned from a grocery shopping outing.

WA Police say the man, 35, grabbed her by the arms, pushed her to the floor, and covered her mouth before sexually assaulting her.

The accused had been released from Hakea Prison just days earlier and was staying at a neighbouring unit. The housemate from that unit heard the victim’s screams and rushed to get the man off her.

He was charged with aggravated sexual penetration without consent, aggravated burglary, and impeding another person’s breath and denied bail in court yesterday.