Man Jailed for Murdering Anita Rose While She Walked Her Dog on Suffolk Footpath

Roy Barclay, 56, has been convicted of murdering Anita Rose, a mother of six, while she was out walking her dog on the morning of 24 July last year in Brantham, Suffolk.

A man who carried out a “brutal” fatal assault on a dog walker, causing injuries likened to those from a high-speed car crash, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years.

Roy Barclay, 56, who had no fixed address, attacked 57-year-old Anita Rose in Brantham, Suffolk, on 24 July last year. He subjected her to repeated kicks, stamps, and blows.

Ms Rose, a mother of six, had set out early that morning to walk her springer spaniel, Bruce. She was discovered unconscious with severe head injuries by a passing cyclist at around 6:25am.

She died four days later at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

At the time of the attack, Barclay was wanted by authorities and living off the grid in makeshift camps, having evaded recall to prison. He denied murdering Ms Rose but was convicted by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court on 9 July after just over two hours of deliberation.