Anita Rose, 57, was killed in a 'vicious and brutal attack' while walking her dog in Brantham, Suffolk, on 24 July 2024. Her attacker, Roy Barclay, 56, had been living rough to avoid capture. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder.
Barclay had previously been jailed in 2015 for a similar assault on an 82-year-old man, who was also found with his dog tied to his leg. He was released early from a 10-year sentence but was wanted for recall after breaching his licence terms when he attacked Rose.
The court heard that Rose suffered injuries comparable to those of a car crash victim. Barclay stole items from her, including earphones, and searched online for information about the police manhunt and DNA detection. He shaved his head and beard to avoid capture.
Rose's daughter, Jessica Cox, said in a victim impact statement that Barclay showed no remorse and had not explained why he attacked her mother. 'He has put us through a nightmare which we can't wake from,' she said.
Judge Martyn Levett described Barclay as 'unpredictable' and prone to dangerous outbursts. The Suffolk probation service has started an internal inquiry into the case.
