Naked homeowner sprays intruder away

A 61-year-old Australian man has stood naked in his back yard and bravely used a garden hose to fight off a teenage intruder. And when the 20m-long hose could not be extended any longer, he chased the youth down the street in nothing but his birthday suit. But Walter Mayer- a fit and healthy TV repairman - said his actions were not brave. "It was quite foolish when you sit and think about it now," he said.

Mr Mayer was having a shower at his Tennant Creek home when he heard his roof being pelted with rocks about 8pm on Monday. When he raced out to see what it was, he could hear his back screen door being rattled. "My whole house was vibrating from the shaking of the doors," Mr Mayer said. "It was a bit terrifying but my survival instinct to protect my house and myself kicked in. I yelled out for him to leave and then barged out the back door.

"He was sitting up on the back fence holding a big stick and then started throwing rocks at me so I grabbed my hose and just sprayed it as hard as I could at his face. I sprayed him up and down and had the stream going into his eyes so he couldn't see. He kept throwing rocks and as I got closer with the hose he took off. I went barefoot and naked right down the street after him - it was like a mad dog chase."



Mr Mayer said he gave up and returned to his home to call the police. He said when he was inside calling for help, the youth allegedly returned and threw a big rock at his house, smashing a window. Police arrested a 17-year-old boy hiding behind a nearby building soon after.

When officers quizzed him as to why he was dripping wet, the youth allegedly said he had just taken his clothes out of the washing machine. It is understood the teenager is known to police.

He was later charged with aggravated assault, being armed with an offensive weapon, unlawfully damaging property, supplying a false name and breaching bail. He was remanded in custody to appear in the Tennant Creek Court on December 4.