A gutsy grandma – recovering from a brutal sex attack by a bleached-haired intruder in her SoHo apartment last week – leaned on her cane and bravely picked out her would-be rapist from a police lineup yesterday.
Still bearing welts and bruises on her arms and shoulders, the petite, gray-haired, 74-year-old woman had to be helped from a police van by several burly cops. They gently escorted her inside a Harlem station house where she identified the suspect, Ralph Gardella, 35.
Later, the granny’s daughter-in-law said the fearless senior citizen wanted to set an example for other victims of sexual assault, to not be afraid.
“My mother-in-law is an example of strength, and I hope that any woman out there who goes through such a horrible tragedy also speaks up the way she did and puts these horrible people behind bars,” she said, asking not to be identified. “My sons are very proud of their grandma.”
The daughter-in-law added that the elderly woman was on the road to recovery, “all things considered.”
“But she is extremely angry,” she said.
Gardella made a videotaped confession to Tuesday’s vicious assault in the Thompson Street apartment, according to the victim.
The bleached-blond thug sported a white mesh tank top, long denim shorts and a pair of new sneakers as he was taken in handcuffs from the 26th Precinct station house.
Police said he was wearing the same sneakers that he purchased with the victim’s ATM card. After he was identified in the police lineup, Gardella was charged with attempted rape, assault, robbery and burglary.
Police said Gardella entered the victim’s apartment on Tuesday when she left her front door ajar for ventilation.
He forced her into the bathroom, where he tried to rape her but failed to complete the attack, cops said. Then he allegedly stuffed a towel down her throat, causing her to lose consciousness.
When she awoke, Gardella demanded her ATM card and PIN, cops said.
The suspect’s uncle, Joe Gardella, reacted in shock and anger.
“It’s tragic,” he said. “You should go to church and say a prayer, that’s what I’m going to do.
“My nephew is a screw-up. He’s not adjusted like regular people.”