A young Somali refugee, who has just been granted refugee status, has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 68-year-old woman as she sunbathed on a beach in Abruzzo, Italy.

The man is named Saleban Nuur Shaieb, and is 20-years-old and is reportedly homeless.

Local Italian news source, Repubblica, reported on Thursday of last week that Shaieb pushed the woman to the ground so violently that she hit her head against some stones. The 68-year-old woman has told reporters that she thought he was going to kill her.

Before the rape, the man stripped naked and masturbated in front of several people who promptly called the police. He then went down to the beach where he raped the victim. The woman survived after being treated for head injuries at a local hospital.

The Somali immigrant has been living in Italy for the past year, first landing in Sicily, but only obtained subsidiary protection one month ago.