About 10.30pm Thursday night (November 19) Ms Migliacci was disturbed by a violent robbery and assault in her neighbour’s unit on Helen St.

 “I could hear screaming, yelling and swearing,” Ms Migliacci said.

“So I went into the back yard to have a look. I was still in my nightie.

“I opened the gate and police were on the fence. They told me they were looking for a man.”

She told the police she had not seen anyone and had only heard the noise coming from the unit.

However, the fugitive was hiding behind a flower bush with a jacket over his head, invisible to the police and less than a metre from Ms Migliacci.

She went into the street with some other neighbours to see what happened, oblivious to the man hiding in her flower bush.

When the commotion died down and the assault victim was taken to hospital, she returned home and saw the top of his head sticking above the bush.

“I shouted out, ‘what are you doing here’, and he got up and ran down Robert St,” she said.

“He gave me a fright, I was shaking. I needed to take two Panadols to calm down."

The 40-year-old man was eventually caught and arrested, along with a 37-year-old woman.

They were taken to Forster Police Station and charged with robbery in company causing grievous bodily harm and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Both appeared in Taree Local Court today.

In court, police alleged the man and the woman assaulted the 67-year-old at his Helen Street home, before stealing cash and a mobile phone.

The assault victim suffered injuries including fractures to his face, back and ribs and other internal injuries.

The man and woman pleaded not guilty and their case was adjourned to January 5 with bail refused.

Ms Migliacci said it was a shame such a beautiful town like Forster had these problems.

She said she believed tougher penalties on criminals would dissuade people from breaking the law.