Laurence Worville, 51, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the attempted murder of his estranged wife, whom he drove into with his car and then beat with a baseball bat. The attack, which occurred on May 7 last year in Hull, was motivated by his anger over his wife allowing his koi carp to die while he was in prison.
Attack Details and Public Intervention
CCTV footage showed Worville accelerating his silver Volkswagen Polo into his wife, pinning her against railings on Chanterlands Avenue near Lytton Avenue at 7.30am. After the crash, he retrieved a newly purchased baseball bat from Sports Direct and struck her repeatedly over the head. Passersby intervened, restraining Worville and preventing what the judge said would almost certainly have been a fatal attack.
Judge John Thackray KC stated, "You were plotting to kill your wife over a number of days prior to the attack. You did not see her by chance on the morning of the attack as you claimed. You were actively looking for her in order to kill her and that was the purpose of carrying the baseball bat."
Victim's Injuries and Hospitalization
The victim suffered a badly broken leg, a deep cut to the back of her head, and a broken finger. She was hospitalized for 10 days and now walks with a limp due to a titanium rod in her leg. She has permanent scars and experiences constant anxiety, particularly when passing the site of the attack.
Premeditation and Breach of Restraining Order
Worville, who had previously worked for the Royal Mail, stole mail redirection stickers to find his wife's new address. He had a restraining order from April 17 last year banning contact with her, which he breached. His previous offences included assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, and two assaults in December 2024, for which he received a community order.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Worville denied attempted murder but was convicted by a jury at Hull Crown Court. He claimed he acted in anger over his koi carp. Judge Thackray KC noted, "You had the astonishing temerity to try and justify your attack by complaining that your wife had not looked after your koi carp whilst you were in prison for attacking her." The judge sentenced Worville to 24 years in prison with an additional four years on licence due to the serious risk he poses to the public.
Victim's Statement and Aftermath
In a victim impact statement, the woman expressed her ongoing fear and gratitude for the public's intervention. She said, "Without the heroic actions of those who came to my aid that day, it would have been a very different outcome; I have no doubt that they saved my life." She urged others in similar situations to seek help from trusted friends, family, police, or support agencies.
Prosecutor Nick Adlington stated, "Had it not been for the brave intervention of members of the public, those injuries would have been fatal. The defendant had the settled intention to find and then to kill her."
