Manhunt for tried assassin after canine walker in her 50s discovered

A woman is fighting for her life after being apparently attacked while taking her springer spaniel for an early morning walk on a quiet country path.

The victim, who is in her 50s, was found by members of the public on an isolated track between a sewage works and a railway line.

Police are treating the incident as an attempted murder, and officers have been searching for evidence at the scene off Rectory Lane in Brantham, Suffolk.

The woman, who has not been named, is said to have left her home at 5am on Wednesday to walk her dog.

A member of the public tried to help her and dialled 999 after finding her injured and unconscious 90 minutes later with her spaniel unharmed next to her.

Police scouring the scene for clues near where the unnamed woman was attacked on Wednesday morning

Police at the scene off Rectory Lane in Brantham, Suffolk, where a woman in her 50s was ‘attacked’ while walking her dog

The woman was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to a specialist head injuries unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

Suffolk Police said she remained in a critical condition today. 

The spot where she was attacked was still cordoned off by police today as officers continued searching undergrowth around where she was found.

The area close to the River Stour has a large number of tracks which are popular with dog walkers from the village of Brantham and further afield.

One woman walking her dog nearby said today: ‘It is horrific and just awful. This is a beautiful area.

‘You can walk around and not see anyone, or if you do, they are often the same people who come here all the time.’

Her husband added: ‘There are only farmers, farm workers and dog walkers. There is nobody else.

‘We did see a naked man walking down the path a few years ago, but he was more of a naturist rather than a flasher.’

Forensics at the scene close to where the dog walker was ‘attacked’ while on an early morning walk

Tractor driver Bradley James, 28, said: ‘You do not hear of this sort of thing happening around here’

Insurance worker Ian Swan, 58, of nearby Mistley and who was also walking his dog, said: ‘It is lovely around here and always seems very safe.

‘There are plenty pf people around and I have never heard of any problems. It is really quiet.’

Tractor driver Bradley James, 28, said: ‘The woman was found at a point where the path narrows and is a little overgrown.

‘You have the railway embankment and train tracks on one side and the sewage works in a big gated area on the other

‘It is quiet hidden away by trees while other parts of the track are quite open beside fields. It is almost like a blind spot.

‘We do not know who the lady is. It is quite tragic. You do not hear of this sort of thing happening around here.

‘It has caused a lot of upset locally and made a lot of people nervous about coming down here with their dogs.

‘My mum regularly walks down that track and now she says that she doesn’t want to go back there.’

Cornelius Smith, 28, who lives nearby, added: ‘I walk my dog all through these lanes and I’ve never known anything like this to happen before.

‘I was out last night with my dog, walking. This is shocking, this is disgusting. It’s completely shocked me.’

A Suffolk Police statement said: ‘Police are treating the incident as an attempted murder and a police cordon remains on the scene while investigations are carried out.

‘Police are working hard to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident as it is still unclear how exactly she sustained her injuries.

‘The victim is known to have left her home address at around 5am to walk her dog and was found at around 6.30am by a member of the public who called 999 and tried to assist her.

‘The victim’s family are aware and being supported by police officers. The victim’s dog, a Springer Spaniel, was with her when she was found and is safe and well.

‘Local residents can expect to see an increased police presence over the next few days while enquiries take place, while additional officers will also be in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.

‘Whilst searches, forensic enquiries and house to house enquiries take place, officers are keen to speak to anyone who saw suspicious activity, in the area of Rectory Lane particularly between the times of 5am and 6.30am or the hours just before or after this.’