A woman has been punched and bitten during a home invasion south of Adelaide, with her three children forced to take refuge inside a bathroom after the intruder allegedly entered through an unlocked door.
A man has been arrested over the attack on Lovelock Street at Aldinga Beach, where police were called just before 9:00pm on Saturday.
Police allege the 21-year-old Aldinga Beach man entered the property through a back door that was unlocked and then walked through the home.
When the 35-year-old woman approached the intruder, he allegedly punched her in the head and bit her right cheek and lower left arm.
"During the ordeal the victim's three children were inside the home and locked themselves in the bathroom," police said.
The mother managed to fight off the man, who then left the home and was seen in nearby Follett Street, where police located him.
He was arrested and charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and aggravated assault causing harm.
Police have indicated the motive behind the attack remains unclear, and that investigations are continuing.
A nearby car was found with its window smashed.
The man remains in custody and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday.
Paramedics treated the woman at the scene and then transferred her to the Flinders Medical Centre for treatment.
