BY DARRELL HALEN

A woman fought off an intruder who broke into her Pelham home during the day and attempted to sexually assault her.

The man forced his way through a side door at her Misty Lane residence around 1:25 p.m. on Sunday, July 29.

The woman was treated for minor injuries at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua.    

“She’s extremely traumatized. She’s out of the hospital. She’s home,” said Lt. Brian McCarthy the next day. “She’s traumatized, as to be expected.”

McCarthy declined to say what her injuries were.

The woman was alone and doesn’t know the man, McCarthy said. She didn’t report the man had a weapon or took anything from the home when she was interviewed by police, he said.

The suspect, who fled before police arrived at the house, is described as middle aged, having brown hair, a thin build and standing approximately 5 feet 6 inches. He is described as wearing blue jeans, black boots and a white tank top.

Police from Pelham, Windham, and Dracut, Mass., searched the area, including an extensive house-to-house search, but were unable to find him.

A witness on West Fall Road, which connects to Misty Lane, told police that he saw a white, four-door Cadillac or Lincoln Continental type of car around 1 p.m. on the day of the attack.

The man in the car was described by the witness as a white male with brown hair wearing a white sleeveless shirt.

The witness told police the man turned away when he looked at him, McCarthy said.