Brantham - Man given life sentence for the murder of Anita Rose
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A 56-year-old man has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering a 57-year-old woman in Brantham last summer.
Roy Barclay, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years at Ipswich Crown Court today, Wednesday 6 August 2025.
He was found guilty of the murder of Anita Rose on Wednesday 9 July following a six-week trial.
The court heard that Anita had left her house at 5am on Wednesday 24 July 2024 to take her springer spaniel dog, Bruce, for a walk and was found critically injured by a member of public at approximately 6:25am.
She was found lying across a footpath outside the sewage works off Rectory Lane, unconscious and with visible head and facial injuries. She was wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half. Bruce was not harmed, and his lead had been found wrapped around her leg.
An ambulance was called and Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Due to the nature and severity of her injuries, the ambulance crew called police and detectives immediately began treating this incident as an attempted murder.
On the morning of the attack, local CCTV and doorbell footage showed Anita walking Bruce wearing a pink zip-up jacket, which was missing at the point she was found and presumed to have been removed by the suspect. Also missing were her iPhone, her iPhone case (a distinctive black wallet-style quilted case with gold crown and stud detail), her Samsung earbuds and a door key.
Tragically Anita died on Sunday 28 July 2024, four days after the attack, having not regained consciousness.
An initial post-mortem examination was held the following day, Monday 29 July, with the cause of death later determined as traumatic brain injury. The court heard Anita had sustained injuries to her upper chest, neck, face and scalp and that the level of force was consistent with a prolonged assault of stamping to the head, akin to the injuries seen following a fatal road traffic collision.
A murder investigation was launched, and officers continued to conduct enquiries within the local community and engaging with commuters on train services between Ipswich and Colchester, as well as other public transport. Officers also released CCTV images of Anita and a map of her walking route to the public, in hope that it would prompt potential witnesses to report any relevant information or suspicious activity.
A location tracking application on Anita’s phone indicated that her walk started in Palfrey Heights. It showed that her walk reached the end of Newmill Lane by the Stour estuary, before she turned around and retraced her steps back up Newmill Lane where the app was manually stopped at around 6:03am, close to The Street, at the top of Newmill Lane. The court heard that it was normal for the app to be stopped at this point in Anita’s usual walk.
At 6:15am Anita’s partner made a video call to her, which was answered but the screen was black and the call was silent.
On Saturday 27 July, three days after the attack, Anita’s phone - but not her distinctive phone case - was located in Ipswich after it had been switched on for the first time. The two people, a man and a woman, who were found in possession of the phone were arrested in connection with the incident.
However, it became apparent that there was no evidence to link the couple to Anita or the attack that led to her death.
CCTV footage in Ipswich captured a man, now known to be Roy Barclay, in the immediate vicinity of where the phone was picked up by the couple, shortly before it was switched on.
The footage showed Barclay entering a seating area of Upper Orwell Street carrying a bag. When he re-emerges on CCTV later, the bag is absent.
Detectives carried out extensive enquiries, with officers reviewing more than 700 hours of CCTV footage, conducting house-to-house enquiries, speaking to approximately 3,000 people who live and work in Brantham, taking witness statements and collating information received from members of the public via the Major Incident Public Portal.
Officers were unable to identify one man seen walking in the same direction as Anita a short time after her on the morning of the attack.
Anita had been captured on CCTV in Rectory Lane at 5:16am; the unidentified man now known to be Roy Barclay was captured on the same camera at 5:33am, and then again at 5:37am walking in the same direction as Anita. He was wearing a blue two-tone sweatshirt with a distinctive logo above the left chest, a beanie hat and walking boots.
At the time the man was considered a potential witness, and officers issued an appeal to the public to identify him; the appeal also featured on BBC Crimewatch Live and was subject to a £20,000 reward offered by Crimestoppers.
At approximately 5pm on Tuesday 15 October 2024 DC Barry Simpson, a plain-clothed detective in an unmarked police vehicle who was working on the murder investigation, saw a man walking along the A137 near Brantham who resembled the unidentified man from the CCTV footage.
DC Simpson stopped the man, identified himself as a police officer and requested to speak to him. The man said his name was John Lesley and denied that he was the man depicted in the CCTV image and claimed that he did not normally walk before 7am.
This was subsequently discovered to be a false name that Roy Barclay had given, and police uncovered that he was in fact wanted on recall to prison having breached the conditions of his licence.
The court heard that Barclay had previously been convicted of an assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent in Essex in 2015, which bore striking similarities to his attack on Anita. An elderly man sustained multiple facial fractures and underwent several operations, following an unprovoked attack by Barclay, who originally denied the charge before changing his plea to guilty on the first day of trial. He received a 10-year jail term. The man had been walking his dog when he encountered Barclay; the dog lead had then been wrapped around his leg following the attack.
After being released from prison on licence in February 2020, Barclay had conditions to live at approved premises in Ipswich but failed to comply with those conditions. With his licence revoked, he was recalled to prison in May 2022. Suffolk Constabulary was informed, and Roy Barclay was sought for arrest.
On 21 October 2024 Barclay was located in Ipswich Library, following a police manhunt, and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning where he was charged the following evening (on 22 October).
Following his arrest, police discovered two areas that Barclay would rough sleep; the first under the Orwell Bridge where, amongst his possessions, police recovered Anita’s Samsung earbuds, from which forensic testing detected the DNA of both Anita Rose and Roy Barclay.
The two-tone blue sweatshirt that he had been wearing on the CCTV image released to the public was also found, with the distinctive logo removed.
A secondary camp of Barclay’s was discovered in a remote and rural location in the outskirts of Brantham, close to the river and railway line, completely concealed by shrubbery and overgrowth.
Amongst his possession, police found Anita’s missing phone case, her pink jacket and her door key. Barclay’s walking boots, seen pictured in the CCTV on the morning of the attack, were also recovered from the makeshift camp and examined by a shoe pattern expert who, the court heard, determined the geometric pattern of the boots were consistent with the marks on Anita’s face.
It is believed that Barclay had made attempts to change his appearance after the encounter with DC Simpson on 15 October, in an effort to evade police, by shaving his head and beard.
Barclay’s phone was seized following his arrest and the court heard that he had diarised the weeks that had passed since his attack on Anita on his phone calendar.
His phone search history indicated that he had closely followed the case on both the Suffolk Constabulary website, as well as local news outlets and social media. He also made several internet searches on DNA detection, general searches about a murder trial duration, prisons, as well as researching the senior officers involved in the investigation.
Further internet searches Barclay made before the attack on Anita showed his interest in Brantham, particularly the sewage works which had a washing and a toilet facility. Whilst this was locked and secured with a perimeter barbed wire fence, police had recorded early in the investigation that the barbed wire fence had been cut and, later, recovered a lock pick kit in Barclay’s makeshift camp under the Orwell Bridge. Police believe Barclay accessed the sewage works to use the facilities to enable him to live off grid.
Phone records also placed him in Ipswich on the morning of 27 July, when Anita’s phone was switched on by the couple, as his own phone accessed publicly available Wi-Fi nearby.
Barclay denied murder but was found guilty of the charge by a jury in a unanimous verdict after approximately two and a half hours of deliberation.
When passing sentence, the Judge described Barclay as “unpredictable, disheartening and a dangerous man”.
The court commended the police investigation and the dedication of the family liaison officers.
Barclay was also sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for being unlawfully at large after recall to prison since 1 June 2022, to be served consecutively.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick, the Senior Investigating Officer of the case, said “Anita Rose was subjected to the most shocking and violent attack on the outskirts of her village whilst she was alone and vulnerable on her early morning dog walk.
“This was an extremely challenging and complex investigation requiring the skill and dedication of police officers and staff across all departments within Suffolk Constabulary, and beyond, to identify the offender and to build a comprehensive case against him to secure his conviction.
“This result would also not be possible without the professionalism and commitment of the Prosecution Team.
“Roy Barclay was a deceitful and violent man who lived off grid in solitude. Three days after the attack he left Anita’s phone in Ipswich, enabling it to fall into the hands of others. Whilst causing a distraction and diverting significant resources, this ultimately led to his downfall with further CCTV being obtained capturing his actions.
“Our thoughts remain with Anita’s partner, children and grandchildren who have endured an unimaginable year and have been forced to sit through weeks of painful evidence at trial. I hope todays sentencing brings a measure of justice to them all.
“Lastly, I would like to thank the Brantham community. As part of our investigation we spoke with over 3,000 people living and working in the area and have received nothing but support from them to help catch and convict the murderer and restore the normal sense of safety to the village.”
A voluntary partnership review is underway under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) process involving the police and the probation service, which will look closely at the information sharing processes and how the organisations collaborated in terms of Barclay who was wanted on recall to prison when he murdered Anita.
Previous release - 9 July 2025
A 56-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a 57-year-old woman who was attacked in Brantham last summer.
Roy Barclay, of no fixed abode, was convicted of the murder of Anita Rose at Ipswich Crown Court today, Wednesday 9 July, following a six-week trial.
Anita had left her house at 5am on Wednesday 24 July 2024 to take her springer spaniel dog, Bruce, for a walk but was found critically injured by a member of public at 6:25am.
She was found lying across a footpath outside the sewage works off Rectory Lane, unconscious and with visible head and facial injuries. She was wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half. Bruce was not harmed and his lead was wrapped around her leg.
An ambulance was called and Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Due to the nature and severity of her injuries, the ambulance crew called police. Detectives immediately began treating this as an attempted murder.
Local CCTV and doorbell footage showed Anita walking Bruce that morning. She could be seen wearing a pink zip-up jacket, which was missing at the point she was found and presumed to have been removed by the suspect. Also missing were her iPhone, her iPhone case (a distinctive black wallet-style quilted case with gold crown and stud detail), her Samsung earbuds and a door key.
Tragically, Anita died four days later (on 28 July).
An initial post-mortem examination was held the following day, on Monday 29 July, with the cause of death later determined as traumatic brain injury. The court heard Anita had sustained injuries to her upper chest, neck, face and scalp and that the level of force was consistent with a prolonged assault of stamping to the head.
Images and footage of Anita, and a map of her walking route, were issued to the public by police in hope that it would prompt potential witnesses to report any relevant information or suspicious activity.
One person from CCTV in Brantham on the morning of the attack remained unidentified.
Anita was captured on CCTV in Rectory Lane at 5:16am; the unidentified man, now known to be Roy Barclay, was captured on the same camera first at 5:33am and then again at 5:37am.
At the time the man was considered a potential witness, and officers issued an appeal to the public to identify him.
The case also featured an appeal on BBC Crimewatch Live and was subject to a £20,000 reward offered by Crimestoppers.
On Tuesday 15 October 2024 DC Barry Simpson, who was working on the murder investigation, saw a man walking along the A137, near Brantham, who resembled the unidentified man from the CCTV footage.
DC Simpson stopped the man and requested to speak with him. The man identified himself as John Lesley.
This was subsequently discovered to be a false name that Roy Barclay had given, and that he was in fact wanted on recall to prison having breached the conditions of his license.
Following a police manhunt Barclay was located in Ipswich on 21 October 2024 and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning where he was charged the following evening (on 22 October).
After his arrest, police discovered two areas that Barclay would rough sleep; the first was under the Orwell Bridge and the other in a remote rural location on the outskirts of Brantham, close to the river and railway line, completely concealed by shrubbery and overgrowth.
Amongst his possessions, Anita’s Samsung earbuds were found in the Orwell Bridge camp; her pink jacket, phone case and door key were later found in the Brantham camp. Also found amongst his belongings were his walking boots and a two-tone blue sweatshirt that he had been seen wearing on CCTV on the morning of the attack.
Anita’s phone was recovered early in the investigation, after it was switched on in Ipswich on 27 July, three days after the attack.
A man and woman who were found in possession of the phone were arrested in connection with the incident.
The investigation revealed there was no evidence to link the couple to Anita, or the attack that led to her death. However, CCTV footage in Ipswich on 27 July captured Barclay in the immediate vicinity of where the phone was picked up by the couple shortly before it was switched on.
Roy Barclay has been remanded in custody pending a sentencing hearing to be held at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday 6 August.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “Today has seen a violent man brought to justice.
“This was a brutal attack on a lone woman in an isolated, rural area on the outskirts of a peaceful village. We may never fully understand the motive behind it and our thoughts remain firmly with Anita’s family at the conclusion of this trial.
“I would like to thank them and the Brantham community for their support and patience throughout this investigation, and to all those who provided vital information that ultimately helped secure this conviction.”
Assistant Chief Constable Alice Scott said: “Following the conviction resulting from the trial of Roy Barclay for the murder of Anita Rose last summer, a voluntary partnership review will now be conducted under the MAPPA* process involving the police and the probation service.
“It will look closely at the information sharing processes and how the organisations collaborated in terms of Barclay who was wanted on recall to prison when he murdered Anita.
“This review will be a thorough assessment and scrutiny of the processes concerning Barclay. It will be expedited as soon as possible so we can provide clear and definitive answers for Anita’s family. Our thoughts remain with Anita’s family and friends as they reflect on the past year, and our force Family Liaison Officers will continue to remain in close dialogue with them as the review progresses.”
*MAPPA - Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements
Previous release | 23 October 2024
A 55-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham.
Roy Barclay, of no fixed abode, appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court this morning, Wednesday 23 October, where he was subsequently remanded in custody to appear at Ipswich Crown Court this afternoon.
Anita, 57, had left her house at around 5am on Wednesday 24 July 2024 to take her springer spaniel dog, Bruce, for a walk but was found critically injured by a member of the public at approximately 6:25am.
She was found by a male cyclist lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious and he called an ambulance. With her jacket taken, she was found wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half, with Bruce’s lead wrapped around her leg. The dog was not harmed.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained serious head injury and facial injuries, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
Barclay has been remanded in custody to return to Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 31 January 2025.
Previous release | 22 October 2024
A 55-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of Anita Rose in Brantham.
Anita, 57, had left her house at around 5am on Wednesday 24 July 2024 to take her springer spaniel dog, Bruce, for a walk but was found critically injured by a member of the public at approximately 6:25am.
She was found by a male cyclist lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious and he called an ambulance. With her jacket taken, she was found wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half, with Bruce’s lead wrapped around her leg. The dog was not harmed.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained serious head injury and facial injuries, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
On Monday 21 October officers arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.
Roy Barclay, 55, of no fixed abode, was charged tonight (Tuesday 22 October), with murder. He is due to appear before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Wednesday 23 October).
Previous release | 21 October 2024
Police have arrested a man following the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham.
Anita, 57, had left her house at around 5am on Wednesday 24 July 2024 to take her springer spaniel dog, Bruce, for a walk but was found critically injured by a member of the public at approximately 6:25am.
She was found by a male cyclist lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious and he called an ambulance. With her jacket taken, she was found wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half, with Bruce’s lead wrapped around her leg. The dog was not harmed.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained serious head injury and facial injuries, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
This morning (Monday 21 October), officers arrested a 55-year-old man in Ipswich on suspicion of murder.
The man is currently being questioned at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre, where he remains.
Specialist officers are supporting Anita’s family and keeping them updated on the investigation.
Anyone with any information that may assist with this inquiry is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team via our online portal:
Major Incident Public Reporting Portal - Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Anita’s death. The reward is only payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers, rather than the police. With Crimestoppers, computer IP addresses are never traced. Telephone calls are never recorded, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility.
Contact www.crimestoppers-uk.org or call the charity’s 24/7 Contact Centre on 0800 555 111
For more information regarding the Crimestoppers reward, please visit Substantial reward to catch killer of ‘well known and loved’ Suffolk grandmother | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)
Previous release | 14 October 2024
Detectives investigating the murder of Anita Rose from Brantham have made an appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch Live programme.
The appeal follows the announcement that the charity Crimestoppers, which is independent to the police, is offering a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her death.
Anita, aged 57, had left her house at around 5am on Wednesday 24 July 2024 to take her springer spaniel dog, Bruce, for a walk but was found critically injured by a member of public at approximately 6:25am.
Police are releasing new CCTV footage of Anita on the morning she was attacked on the start of her walk at Palfrey Heights at around 5am, and later walking on Rectory Lane at 5.17am.
Watch: https://youtu.be/0gYOR7iMPOU
In the footage Anita is wearing dark leggings, trainers and a pink jacket, which detectives have since confirmed is a discontinued cerise-coloured Regatta Calderdale II jacket.
She was later found by a male cyclist lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious and he called an ambulance. With her jacket taken, she was found wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half, with Bruce’s lead wrapped around her leg. The dog was not harmed.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained serious head injury and facial injuries, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
Anita’s pink Regatta jacket, black phone case which is described as quilted with a gold crown and stud detail, and white Samsung Galaxy Buds2 earphones all remain missing, and detectives continue to appeal for information relating to these items as they may hold key information or evidence to the investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick, the senior investigating officer, said: “It was a light morning and Anita was seen on CCTV wearing a distinctive, brightly coloured jacket during her walk. She was not wearing this when she was found injured by the member of public and we do not know why this was removed or where it is now.
“We continue to investigate all possible motives for the attack, and from our enquiries so far there is nothing to suggest that Anita was sexually assaulted.
“We know Anita used an app on her phone that enabled her to track the route she was taking around the village. She and Bruce walked in a north easterly direction from Palfrey Heights, circled the church and walked south of Rectory Lane into the open countryside.
“She then followed a path along the railway line that runs through Brantham until she turned right towards the top of Newmill Lane. Anita followed Newmill Lane down to the river and doubled back to the top of Newmill Lane where she stopped her app at 6:03am, having walked approximately three miles.
“We know from previous walks that this is the same location where Anita has previously stopped the app and we believe she then retraced her steps away from Newmill Lane with the intent to finish her walk via Decoy Pond but was subject to an attack before she was able to reach it.”
Extensive enquiries have taken place since the incident, including forensic work, searches, house-to-house enquiries and CCTV analysis.
Specialist officers continue to support Anita’s family and are keeping them updated on the investigation during this distressing time.”
DCI Connick added: “I’d like to express my thanks to all those who have come forward with information so far and encourage anyone else who can help with our investigation to please contact police if you haven’t already done so.
“Anita’s family deserve answers and anyone with information, no matter how big, small or even irrelevant it may initially seem, are urged to contact us as it may assist us to establish the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s injuries and subsequent death.”
The Crimewatch appeal can be viewed on BBC iPlayer for the next 28 days here: Crimewatch Live - Series 20: 11. Collision Investigators - BBC iPlayer
Anyone who recognises the unidentified potential witness from the CCTV image, or has any information that may assist with this inquiry is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team, either via our online portal or by telephone as detailed below:
Major Incident Public Reporting Portal - Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
- Phone – call 0800 051 6076 up until 10pm this evening, Monday 14 October. Thereafter, please call the incident room on 01473 613513.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Anita’s death. The reward is only payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers, rather than the police. With Crimestoppers, computer IP addresses are never traced. Telephone calls are never recorded, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility.
Contact www.crimestoppers-uk.org or call the charity’s 24/7 Contact Centre on 0800 555 111
For more information regarding the Crimestoppers reward, please visit: Substantial reward to catch killer of ‘well known and loved’ Suffolk grandmother | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)
Previous release | 13 September 2024
Detectives investigating the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham have identified a potential witness after releasing CCTV images of two individuals they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.
The images were issued last week, on Wednesday 4 September, and police can confirm they have now identified one of the individuals, who is being treated as a potential witness and is not a suspect, and who is assisting officers with their enquiries.
Anita was found unconscious at approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July on a track road near the Anglian Water sewage works and the railway line, off Rectory Lane, having left her house around 5am that morning to take her dog for a walk.
She was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital having sustained a serious head injury, where she sadly died four days later, on Sunday 28 July.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “We have not yet identified the second individual from our CCTV appeal and remain keen to speak to them as they may hold key information that could assist with our enquiries. I want to make it clear that this person is not a suspect.
“This investigation remains a priority to the constabulary and we are grateful for the assistance from our colleagues from across the organisation, as well as regional and national law enforcement agencies.
“Local residents will have been aware of an increased police presence over the last seven weeks and will today (Friday 13 September) have noticed even larger numbers in the village. These are officers who had previously been scheduled for routine training and who have been redirected to assist with our house-to-house enquiries. We are grateful for the continued support from the community in Brantham.
“We ask that anyone with information, no matter how big, small or even irrelevant it may initially seem, to contact us as it may assist us to establish the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s injuries and subsequent death.”
A location tracking application on Anita’s phone indicated that her walk started at 5am in Palfrey Heights. It showed that her walk reached the end of Newmill Lane by the river, before she turned around and retraced her steps back up Newmill Lane where the app was manually stopped at 6:03am, close to The Street, at the top of Newmill Lane. Further analysis has shown that it was normal for the app to be stopped at this point in Anita’s usual walk.
Police continue to appeal for anyone who may have seen Anita - or anyone else - that morning, especially between 6am and 6:30am, to get in touch. They are particularly keen to hear of any suspicious people seen from the top of Newmill Lane, at the junction with The Street, to the track road between the railway line and the Anglia Water sewage treatment plant, near Rectory Lane where Anita was found, as well as any suspicious vehicles seen in the area.
Detectives also continue to appeal for Anita’s missing cerise Regatta Calderdale II jacket and black phone case which is described as a black wallet style quilted case with gold crown and stud detail.
Anyone who recognises the unidentified potential witness from the CCTV images, or has any information relating to this murder investigation should contact Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release | 4 September 2024
Police are keen to speak to two individuals in connection with the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham.
Anita left her house at approximately 5am on Wednesday 24 July to take her dog for a walk.
At approximately 6:25am a member of public found Anita lying unconscious on a track near the Anglian Water sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, and called an ambulance. Officers were then called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained a serious head injury, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
Extensive enquiries have been completed since the incident and as part of this officers have reviewed over one hundred hours of CCTV. From this, several individuals have already been located and spoken to through house to house and witness enquiries and officers are grateful for the immense support provided to the police from the community of Brantham.
Police are keen to speak to two individuals who are yet to be identified as it is believed that they may be able to assist the enquiry and could possibly hold key information that would help to find the person responsible for the attack on Anita.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “Following our CCTV searches, house to house and witness enquiries, we have been able to narrow down who we would like to speak to in connection with Anita’s murder. It must be understood that we believe they may be able to assist us in our enquiries and are not suspects in this case.
“It’s important we identify and locate these two individuals to get a better understanding of how they can assist the investigation. Any information they have, big or small, could assist in establishing the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s injuries and subsequent death and so we ask these individuals or anyone who may know them to get in contact with us.”
Detectives are also able to release an updated map of what is believed to be Anita’s route through enquiries relating to her mobile phone.
Tracking from an application on Anita’s mobile phone revealed her walk started at 5am in Palfrey Heights. The walk reached the end of Newmill Lane by the river, then turned around and returned back up Newmill Lane where the app was manually stopped at 6.03am close to The Street, at the top of Newmill Lane. Further analysis has shown that it was normal for the app to be stopped at this point in Anita’s usual walk.
Police are particularly keen to speak with anyone who may have seen Anita - or anyone else - that morning, especially between 6am and 6:30am, from the top of Newmill Lane, at the junction with The Street, to the track road between the railway line and the Anglia Water sewage treatment plant, near Rectory Lane where Anita was found.
Anyone with information regarding suspicious people or vehicles seen in the area are urged to get in touch.
Detectives also continue to appeal for Anita’s missing cerise Regatta Calderdale II jacket and black phone case which is described as a black wallet style quilted case with gold crown and stud detail.
To date, Suffolk Police enquiries have generated over 200 statements and 1,200 house to house questionnaires.
Anyone who recognises the individuals depicted in the images or has any information in regards to this murder investigation should contact Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release I 17 August - 9.45am
Detectives investigating the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham have released new images of Anita’s jacket and missing phone case.
Anita Rose left her house at approximately 5am on Wednesday 24 July to take her dog for a walk.
At approximately 6:25am a member of public found Anita lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious, and called an ambulance. Officers were then called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained a serious head injury, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
Detectives have now released replicated images of Anita’s jacket and are able to confirm that the missing waterproof pink zip-up jacket is from Regatta. It is from the Autumn/Winter 2017 range and is a Calderdale II in Duchess Dark Cerise, which is no longer produced.
Whilst officers have previously located and recovered Anita’s mobile phone – an Apple iPhone – they are now also appealing to locate Anita’s missing phone case which is described as a black wallet style quilted case with gold crown and stud detail.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “This update has come from continued work alongside Anita’s family who have assisted us in identifying the make and model of the jacket as well as providing us with an image of Anita’s phone case.
“We continue to believe these missing items could hold key information or evidence to the investigation and ask anyone with any information to come forward and speak with us.
“I’d like to thank Anita’s family for their continued support throughout this investigation, their co-operation has been integral to this case.”
Police enquiries continue to take place, including forensic work, searches, house-to-house enquiries and CCTV analysis.
Specialist officers are supporting Anita’s family and keeping them updated on the investigation during this distressing time.
Anyone with information that may assist with the inquiry is urged to contact Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release I 8 August - 3pm
Detectives investigating the death of Anita Rose in Brantham two weeks ago have now lifted the police cordons in the village.
Two cordons were put in place in the Newmill Lane area on Sunday, 4 August, after officers identified two additional locations of interest. These were lifted this afternoon (Thursday 8 August).
Anita’s final movements on Wednesday 24 July would have followed one of her usual dog walking routes; starting around 5am at Palfrey Heights, where she turned onto a track road off Brooklands Rise which she followed to Rectory Lane, before turning onto The Chase and the A137 Ipswich Road.
From there she would have turned onto Newmill Lane, reaching the river before turning back and retracing her steps up to Ipswich Road.
Police are particularly keen to speak with anyone who may have seen Anita - or anyone else - that morning, especially between 6am and 6:30am, from the top of Newmill Lane, off Ipswich Road, to the track road between the railway line and the Anglia Water sewage treatment plant, near Rectory Lane where Anita was found.
Anyone with information regarding suspicious people or vehicles seen in the area are urged to get in touch.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: "All police cordons in the village have now been lifted, however we are continuing our enquiries including CCTV and data analysis, forensic work and collating messages and statements received.
“Over the last two weeks, we have spoken to more than 630 people, including as part of house-to-house enquiries, and as a result of this approximately 90 statements have been taken. We have also received more than 150 messages via our Major Investigation Public Portal and continue to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.”
Detectives continue to search for Anita’s pink zip-up, waterproof jacket which they believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident. It is believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
Anita, 57, was found around 6:25am on 24 July by a member of public, injured and unconscious. She had sustained head and facial injuries and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 29 July).
A Home Office post-mortem examination was carried out the following day, but a cause of death has not been established and will be subject to further tests.
To date, police have arrested and bailed three people in connection with the incident; two on suspicion of murder and one on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Anyone with any information or has any knowledge of the incident that could help the police with their enquiries should contact Suffolk police, quoting 37/41580/24.
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.
Previous release I 7 August - 3pm
Two weeks on from her attack, detectives are renewing their appeal for witnesses and information as they continue to investigate the death of Anita Rose in Brantham.
On Wednesday 24 July, 57-year-old Anita left her home address at around 5am to walk her dog.
Her final movements would have followed one of her usual dog walking routes; starting at Palfrey Heights, where she turned onto a track road off Brooklands Rise which she then followed to Rectory Lane, before turning onto The Chase and the A137 Ipswich Road.
From there she would have turned onto Newmill Lane, reaching the river before turning back, retracing her steps up to Ipswich Road. Two further cordons were put in place on Sunday (4 August) at the top and bottom of Newmill Lane as points of interest.
Police are particularly keen to speak with anyone who may have seen Anita - or anyone else - that morning, especially between 6am and 6:30am, from the top of Newmill Lane, off Ipswich Road, to the track road between the railway line and the Anglia Water sewage treatment plant, near Rectory Lane where Anita was found.
She was found injured and unconscious at around 6.30am by a member of the public who called an ambulance. Police were then called shortly after 8am by the East of England Ambulance Service.
Anita had sustained a serious head injury and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital where she sadly died on Sunday morning (28 July). Specially trained officers continue to support Anita’s family.
A Home Office post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday 30 July. A cause of death has not been established and will be subject to further tests. The Major Investigation Team continue to investigate this as a murder.
Detectives continue to search for Anita’s pink zip-up jacket which they believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident. The missing pink zip-up jacket is described as waterproof in material and believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
Officers have previously arrested and bailed three people in connection with the incident; two on suspicion of murder and one on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Police enquiries continue, with forensic work, searches, house-to-house enquiries and CCTV analysis, and residents can expect to see a police presence in the village.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “It has now been two weeks since Anita was attacked and we continue to work hard to establish the circumstances around her death.
“The response we have received via our Major Incident Public Portal and questionnaires have been invaluable and it’s important that the public continue to engage with us.
“I strongly encourage anyone with information to please come forward and speak with us, either directly to officers in the village or via our portal. We are particularly interested in hearing about anyone seen in the areas between Newmill Lane and Rectory Lane, near the railway line and the sewage treatment plant, between 6am and 6:30am. If you have information – no matter how insignificant this may seem – we want to hear from you. It could be critical in pursuing and opening up new lines of enquiries.
“We also urge people to please refrain from speculating about the incident, to allow the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings to take place.”
Anyone with any information or has any knowledge of the incident that could help the police with their enquiries should contact Suffolk police, quoting 37/41580/24.
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.
Previous release I 5 August - 4:27pm
Police investigating the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham continue to pursue multiple lines of enquiry as they seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding her injuries and subsequent death.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team have been working over the last two weeks to piece together the evidence they have collected so far.
This includes forensic work, searches, house-to-house enquiries and CCTV analysis. Officers continue to search for the pink jacket Anita was seen to be wearing prior to the incident and are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that may assist with the inquiry. The jacket is described as a pink, zip-up, waterproof jacket and is believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
Two cordons were also put in place in the Newmill Lane area yesterday afternoon, Sunday 4 August, both of which are on a typical dog walking route for Anita.
Residents can expect to see a continued police presence as officers conduct further enquiries.
Anita Rose, 57, left her house at approximately 5am on Wednesday 24 July to take her dog for a walk.
At approximately 6:25am, a member of public found Anita lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious, and called an ambulance. Officers were then called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita had sustained injuries to her head and face and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July). A Home Office post-mortem examination has been carried out, but the cause of death is pending, subject to further tests.
On Wednesday 31 July, a man aged in his 20s and from Brantham was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and has since been released on bail until Thursday 24 October 2024, with conditions including not to enter Brantham and Manningtree.
Detective Supt Mike Brown said: “It may be that the release on bail of another person arrested in connection with Anita’s murder causes residents or the wider public to be concerned, but again I want to re-assure you that we have the safety of the community and the public at the top of our priorities whenever we are making decisions.
“I know it has been almost two weeks since Anita was found but I would still very much encourage anyone with any concerns or with any information that might be useful to us to either call us or to speak to our officers who will be at the cordons on the Newmill Lane area today.
“Anita’s family continue to be supported by specially trained police officers as part of the investigation.”
Anyone with information that could assist the inquiry is urged to contact the Major Investigation Team at Suffolk Police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release I 4 August - 6:56pm
Detectives investigating the murder of 57-year-old Anita Rose in Brantham have identified two further locations of interest in the village.
Two cordons were put in place in the Newmill Lane area this afternoon, Sunday 4 August, and residents can expect to see a continued police presence, as officers conduct further enquiries.
Anita was found injured and unconscious on a track road near Rectory Lane by a member of public at approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, having left her house around 5am to walk her dog.
Police were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita had sustained injuries to her head and face and was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July). A Home Office post-mortem examination has been carried out but the cause of death is pending, subject to further tests.
Numerous police enquiries have been taking place, including forensic work, searches, house-to-house enquiries and CCTV analysis. Officers continue to search for the pink jacket Anita was seen to be wearing prior to the incident and are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that may assist with the inquiry. The jacket is described as a pink, zip-up, waterproof jacket and is believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Major Investigation Team at Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release I 3 August - 3:50pm
Police have released a man on bail in connection with the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, Anita was found injured and unconscious on a track road near Rectory Lane by a member of public. She had left her house at around 5am to walk her dog.
Police were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita had sustained injuries to her head and face and was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
On Wednesday 31 July, a man aged in his 20s and from Brantham was arrested on suspicion of murder. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and has since been released on bail until Thursday 24 October 2024, with conditions including not to enter Brantham and Manningtree.
Anyone with information that could assist the inquiry is urged to contact the Major Investigation Team at Suffolk Police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Previous release I 2 August - 14:46
Detectives investigating the murder of 57-year-old Anita Rose that occurred in Brantham last week have been granted more time to question a man arrested in connection with the incident.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, Anita was found injured and unconscious on a track road near Rectory Lane by a member of public. She had left her house at around 5am to walk her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce.
Police were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita had sustained injuries to her head and face and was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
A Home Office post-mortem examination was carried out the following day, on Monday 29 July, but the cause of death is yet to be established and will be subject to further tests being carried out.
On Wednesday 31 July, a man aged in his 20s and from Brantham was arrested on suspicion of murder, following anniversary checks that were carried out earlier that day to establish further potential lines of enquiry. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains.
Following an initial superintendent’s extension allowing detectives a further 12 hours to detain him, officers yesterday (Thursday 1 August) applied for a warrant of further detention at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court granting them an additional 36 hours to question the suspect, which will expire tomorrow morning, Saturday 3 August.
This is the third arrest, after police recovered Anita’s missing iPhone on Saturday 27 July which led to two people from Ipswich being arrested that afternoon in connection with the incident. A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later re-arrested on suspicion of murder. A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Both parties were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and have since been released on police bail, with conditions to return on 25 October 2024.
Anita’s pink zip-up jacket, which police believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident, remains outstanding and detectives continue to appeal for information as to its whereabouts as it could hold key information or evidence to the investigation. The jacket is described as waterproof in material and is believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
There will continue to be a police presence in Brantham as officers conduct enquiries to understand the events which led to Anita’s death.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Major Investigation Team at Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release | 1 August 2024 - 2:53pm
Detectives investigating the murder of 57-year-old Anita Rose in Brantham last week have been granted more time to continue questioning a man arrested in connection with the incident.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, Anita was found injured and unconscious on a track road near Rectory Lane by a member of public. She had left her house at around 5am to take her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce, for a walk.
Police were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita had sustained injuries to her head and face and was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
A Home Office post-mortem examination was carried out the following day, on Monday 29 July, but the cause of death is yet to be established and will be subject to further tests being carried out.
The Joint Major Investigation Team continue to investigate this as a murder and are supported by resources across the constabulary and from regional and national law enforcement agencies.
Yesterday, Wednesday 31 July, a man aged in his 20s and from Brantham was arrested on suspicion of murder, following anniversary checks that were carried out earlier that day to establish further potential lines of enquiry. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains.
Detectives have been granted a superintendent’s extension, giving them a further 12 hours to question the man.
This is the third arrest, after police recovered Anita’s missing iPhone on Saturday 27 July which led to two people from Ipswich being arrested that afternoon in connection with the incident. A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later re-arrested on suspicion of murder. A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Both parties were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and have since been released on police bail, with conditions to return on 25 October 2024.
Anita’s pink zip-up jacket, which police believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident, remains outstanding and detectives continue to appeal for information as to its whereabouts as it could hold key information or evidence to the investigation. The jacket is described as waterproof in material and is believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
High-visibility anniversary checks were conducted yesterday morning in the Rectory Lane area, on train services between Ipswich and Colchester and other public transport, with officers speaking with residents and commuters as part of the ongoing public engagement and reassurance patrols. There will continue to be a police presence in Brantham as officers conduct enquiries to understand the events which led to Anita’s death.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Major Investigation Team at Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release | 31 July 2024 - 4:55pm
Detectives investigating the murder of 57-year-old Anita Rose in Brantham one week ago have arrested a third person in connection with the incident.
It follows the anniversary checks that were carried out by officers this morning, Wednesday 31 July, to establish any further potential lines of enquiry.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, Anita was found injured and unconscious on a track road near Rectory Lane by a member of public. She had left her house at around 5am to take her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce, for a walk.
Police were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita had sustained injuries to her head and face and was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
A Home Office post-mortem examination was carried out the following day, Monday 29 July, however the cause of death has not been established and will be subject to further tests.
This afternoon police arrested a man aged in his 20s, and from Brantham, on suspicion of murder. He was taken to the Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning where he remains.
This is the third arrest, after two people from Ipswich were arrested on Saturday, 27 July, in connection with the incident. A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later re-arrested on suspicion of murder. A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Both parties were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and have since been released on police bail, with conditions to return on 25 October 2024.
High-visibility anniversary checks were conducted this morning in the Rectory Lane area, on train services between Ipswich and Colchester and other public transport, with officers speaking with residents and commuters as part of the ongoing public engagement and reassurance patrols.
Officers handed out more than 1,200 leaflets with residents living in the area also completed questionnaires to help with this inquiry.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “We have had a strong response from the public who have positively engaged with officers in the village, on the public transport network and around the scene of the incident, as well as the wider investigation team through the Major Investigation Public Portal and we would like to thank the public for their continued support.
“Today alone, and following this morning’s anniversary checks, we have had nearly 40 responses via our Public Portal and have identified new potential witnesses.
“Whilst we have recovered Anita’s iPhone, her pink zip-up jacket which we believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident remains outstanding. We reiterate our appeal for information as to its whereabouts as it could hold key information or evidence to the investigation. The jacket is described as waterproof in material and is believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
“We also urge people to please refrain from speculating about the incident, to allow the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings to take place.”
Local residents with CCTV or doorbell cameras are urged to review their footage and passengers travelling on trains towards Ipswich, Colchester or Manningtree last Wednesday morning who may have seen anything suspicious are asked to contact police.
Detectives believe Anita’s final movements would have followed her usual dog walking route which started at Palfrey Heights, where she then turned onto a track road off Brooklands Rise which she followed to Rectory Lane, before turning onto The Chase and the A137 Ipswich Road. From there, she would have turned onto Newmill Lane and taken a track road near the railway line.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Major Investigation Team at Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous Release | 30 July 2024 - 15:48
A Home Office post-mortem examination has taken place yesterday (Monday 29 July) afternoon following the death of Anita Rose who was left in a serious condition following a murder in Brantham.
A cause of death has not been established and will be subject to further tests. The Major Investigation Team continue to investigate this as a murder.
Anita’s family have been informed of this latest update and continue to be supported by specialised officers.
Anita Rose
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “Officers are continuing to to establish the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s death. We will pursue all lines of enquiry to understand what led up to this event.
“Our thoughts, as always, remain with Anita’s family at this incredibly difficult time.
“We completely understand and empathise with the concern some members of the Brantham community have expressed about the fact a male who has been arrested on suspicion of murder was subsequently bailed.
“It is important to understand that at times it may be necessary to make arrests in serious and complex investigations based on the evidence available at that time to fully understand the role individuals may have played in any offences identified. As such, a person’s status in an investigation may change as the case develops which may result in options such as Bail being used.
“We remain in close liaison with our other relevant community groups and representatives and repeat what we have said previously that we are working extremely hard to find out who was responsible. Anyone with concerns can and should approach an officer in the area who will be happy to talk to you.
“Tomorrow, Wednesday 31 July, our officers will be conducting anniversary checks in the Rectory Lane area and on Train services between Ipswich and Manningtree. As part of this officers will be distributing leaflets which contain details of the investigation and a QR code to our Major Investigations Portal.
“As ever, we are keen to speak to anyone who saw anything on Wednesday that they think might be useful to the police investigation and anyone living in the area that has CCTV or doorbell cameras.
“If you have any information, please do come forward.”
Anyone with any information or has any knowledge of the incident that could help the police with their enquiries should contact Suffolk police, quoting 37/41580/24.
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.
Previous release | 29 July 2024 - 4.23pm
Police investigating the murder of a 57-year-old woman in Brantham are ‘working hard’ over this week to establish the circumstances surrounding her injuries and subsequent death.
Suffolk Constabulary’s Major Investigation Team are continuing to progress a large number of enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding her injuries and subsequent death.
This work to includes house to house enquiries, searches of the scene where Anita was found and surrounding areas, as well as searching through CCTV footage and on-going forensic work.
Additionally, Suffolk Constabulary will be working alongside their partners at the British Transport Police to establish any further potential lines of enquiries and are planning to conduct an anniversary check in the Rectory Lane area on Wednesday 31 July.
Anita Rose, 57, left her house at approximately 5am to take her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce, for a walk.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, a member of public found Anita lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious, and called an ambulance. Officers were then called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained a serious head injury and sadly passed on Sunday morning (28 July).
On Saturday 27 July, a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later re-arrested on suspicion of murder. That same day, a 37-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods in connection with the incident. Both were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and have since been released on police bail with conditions to return on 25 October 2024.
Detective Supt Mike Brown said: “Residents will continue to see additional police officers patrolling and engaging in the area. We recognise that many people will feel concerned, but I can reassure you that we are working hard to identify what has taken place and that this investigation is a priority for the Constabulary.
“If people are concerned about going out for a walk, I would advise them to remain vigilant, tell someone where you are going, what time you expect to be back and let them know when you are home.
“Anita’s family continue to be supported by specially trained police officers as part of the investigation. We appreciate it’s a very difficult time for them and we therefore ask for people not to speculate on social media about this incident.”
Detectives are continuing to appeal to trace Anita’s pink zip-up jacket which police believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident. The missing pink zip-up jacket is described as waterproof in material and believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
Detective Supt Mike Brown said: “Information from the public is always a key part in investigations and I am again appealing for any information on the whereabouts of Anita’s pink jacket.
“Anita was wearing a pink zip-up jacket which we believe she had on immediately prior to the incident. The missing jacket is described as waterproof in material and believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
“To help with this, we are now releasing a map detailing the route we believe Anita walked on Wednesday morning.
“We are keen to speak to anyone who saw anything on Wednesday in these areas, or anyone travelling on trains towards Ipswich or Manningtree on that morning who saw anything that they think might be useful to the police investigation. We are also keen to speak to anyone living in the area that has CCTV or doorbell cameras.
“I am extremely grateful for the support the community and the media have given us so far. This assistance we receive is absolutely key.”
Anyone with information that may assist with the inquiry is urged to contact Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release | 28 July 2024 - 9.59pm
A woman who was left in a serious condition following an attempted murder in Brantham has died.
Officers were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am on Wednesday 24 July to reports that a woman had been found injured and unconscious on a track near to Rectory Lane.
The woman, Anita Rose, left her house at approximately 5am to take her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce, for a walk.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, a member of public found Anita lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious, and called an ambulance.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for treatment.
Sadly, Anita died at hospital this morning, Sunday 28 July.
Anita’s family have asked police to issue the following statement on their behalf: “Our mum was well known and loved in the community. She was brutally taken from us devastatingly too early, and we have been robbed of so much time with her.
“She wasn’t just a mum of six, she was also a grandma to 13, a long-term partner, a mother-in-law and a special friend to so many. Someone somewhere must know something, and we urge them to come forward. We want to thank everyone for their love and support. All we ask is for everyone to cherish their time with their family and loved ones.”
A 45-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon on suspicion of attempted murder and was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. He has since been re-arrested on suspicion of murder.
A 37-year-old woman from the Ipswich area was also arrested yesterday on suspicion of handling stolen goods in connection with the incident and was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.
The pair have since been released on police bail with conditions to return on 25 October 2024.
Officers have also been able to locate and recover the missing mobile phone – an Apple iPhone. The pink zip-up jacket, which police believe Anita was wearing immediately prior to the incident, is still missing.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “This is a very serious incident following which Anita has now sadly died of her injuries.
“The family continue to be supported by specially trained police officers as part of the investigation.”
“The investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the offence continues, as do enquiries to establish the cause of death. Though I can now confirm that the scene has been lifted on Rectory Lane.
“Local residents should expect to see a continued 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 and house to house enquiries take place, we are keen to speak to anyone who saw anything on Wednesday that they think might be useful to the police investigation and anyone living in the area that has CCTV or doorbell cameras.”
Anyone with any information or has any knowledge of the incident that could help the police with their enquiries should contact Suffolk police, quoting 37/41580/24.
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.
Previous release | 27 July 2024 - 10.02pm
Police have arrested a man following an attempted murder in Brantham.
Officers were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am on Wednesday 24 July to reports that a woman had been found injured and unconscious on a track near to Rectory Lane.
The victim, Anita Rose, left her house at approximately 5am to take her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce, for a walk.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, a member of public found Anita lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious, and called an ambulance.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained a serious head injury and remains there in a critical condition.
At 1pm today (Saturday 27 July), officers arrested a 45-year-old man from the Ipswich area on suspicion of attempted murder.
The man is currently being questioned at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre, where he remains. It is not believed that the suspect is known to the victim at this time.
Specialist officers are supporting Anita’s family and keeping them updated on the investigation.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “We are still looking to establish the exact circumstances leading to the incident, but our initial enquiries are underway, and these will continue over the weekend.
“We continue to be extremely grateful for the support the community and the media have given us so far. This assistance we receive is absolutely key.
“A presence of officers is likely to continue in the area for the next few days with reassurance patrols. These officers are available to speak to concerned members of the community. These officers will also be conducting house to house enquiries, searching through CCTV footage and continuing on-going forensic work.
“This is a fast-moving investigation, and we are appealing to the local community for any further information which may aid this investigation.”
Anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the area or has any knowledge of the incident that could help the police with their enquiries should contact Suffolk police, quoting 37/41580/24.
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999.
Previous release | 26 July 2024 - 2.42pm
Detectives investigating the attempted murder of a 57-year-old woman in Brantham have released an image of the victim, taken on the morning of the incident from a doorbell camera.
It follows an appeal to trace her mobile phone – an Apple iPhone – and a pink zip-up jacket which police believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident.
Police can confirm the victim’s name is Anita Rose, who had left her house at approximately 5am to take her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce, for a walk.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, a member of public found Anita lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious, and called an ambulance. Officers were then called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained a serious head injury and remains there in a critical condition.
Detectives are working hard to establish how Anita came to sustain her injuries and are treating the incident as an attempted murder.
The missing pink zip-up jacket is described as waterproof in material and believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
Police believe the outstanding jacket and iPhone could hold key information or evidence to the investigation.
Numerous police enquiries have been taking place, including forensic work, searches, house-to-house enquiries and CCTV analysis. Officers have continued to be visible in the area and to engage with the local community and would like to thank the public and the media for their support so far in this investigation.
Specialist officers are supporting Anita’s family and keeping them updated on the investigation during this distressing time.
Anita’s family have asked police to issue the following statement on their behalf:
“Mum is a local woman who walked her beloved dog every day. As a family we are devastated and thank the public and media for their support so far. If anyone has any information, please come forward and speak to the police.”
Anyone with information that may assist with the inquiry is urged to contact Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release | 24 July 2024 - 8pm
Police are continuing to investigate an incident in Brantham where a woman was found with a serious head injury.
Officers were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am today, Wednesday 24 July, to reports that a woman had been found injured and unconscious on a track near to Rectory Lane.
The woman, aged in her 50s, had been walking her dog next to the sewage works and railway line. She was found with a serious head injury by members of the public and has been taken to Addenbrookes hospital for treatment where she remains in a critical condition.
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.
Officers ask that anyone who may have information relating to the incident to get in touch by contacting Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
MIPP Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Crimestoppers – Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Phone – Call 101
Previous release | 24 July 2024 - 2.10pm
Police are in attendance to an incident in Brantham.
Officers were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am today, Wednesday 24 July, to reports that a woman had been found injured and unconscious on a track near to Rectory Lane.
The woman, aged in her 50s, had been walking her dog next to the sewage works and railway line.
She was found with a serious head injury by members of the public and has been taken to hospital for treatment where she remains.
Police are treating the incident as an attempted murder.
There is currently a police cordon at the scene while investigations are carried out.
Officers are appealing for anyone who may have information relating to the incident to get in touch.
Anyone with knowledge of the incident should contact Suffolk police quoting 37/41580/24 via:
Website – https://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us
Phone – Call 101