A man who beat a woman to death in a “vicious and brutal attack” as she walked her dog, having previously been in prison for a similar assault on a man in his 80s, has been jailed for life.
Anita Rose, 57, was found grievously wounded on 24 July 2024 in Brantham, Suffolk, with her dog tied to her leg by its lead to stop it running off. Her attacker was Roy Barclay, 56, who had been living rough to escape capture.
He had been jailed for a 2015 attack on a man in his 80s, who was also found with his dog tied to his leg.
Barclay had been released early from a 10-year sentence, but was wanted for recall to prison for breaching the terms of his licence when he attacked Rose, a mother of six. The court heard she suffered a “vicious and brutal attack” with Barclay raining down “kicks, stamps and blows on her”. His boot print matched those found on her body.
Rose died four days later in hospital, having been found by passersby, suffering injuries so severe they were similar to those of a victim of a car crash.
Barclay was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years and the daughter of his victim, Jessica Cox, told of her family’s grief in a victim impact statement. Barclay has shown no remorse, she said, and not told police why he exploded in violence.
Cox said: “He has put us through a nightmare which we can’t wake up from. I believe he’s cunning and I believe he’s enjoyed what he’s done and the trial itself.
“He’s not answered why he did what he did. What he’s done is horrific and it’s evil. He’s given no reason why he’s changed our lives forever. We will never have the answers we deserve as a family.”
Barclay lived rough for two years, breaking into a sewage works through a hole in the fence, which he cut, to wash. Rose was found near the sewage works, just after 6.25am having set out just after 5am to walk her springer spaniel, Bruce.
Having left Rose for dead, Barclay stole items from her including her earphones, which he used, and other phone accessories, which were found on him when he was arrested.
A search of his phone found Barclay had scoured the internet for news about the police manhunt for him as well as searching for information about DNA detection, how long a murder trial took and prisons. He had searched online for information on the detectives leading the hunt for him as well.
He also shaved his head and beard as he tried to avoid capture, and lived rough near a bridge.
In 2015, Barclay attacked an 82-year-old man in Essex so severely he needed 10 titanium plates in his head. He was released from jail in 2020 and was required to live at approved premises, but failed to do so. By May 2022, he was recalled to prison and started living “off grid” to avoid capture.
Barclay stayed mostly in the countryside. He was captured three months after the attack, on 21 October 2024, in Ipswich Library. The Suffolk probation service has started an internal inquiry.
Judge Martyn Levett described Barclay as “unpredictable” and “someone prone to dangerous outbursts at the slightest confrontation”.
He said there were similarities between the two attacks and added: “Due to your silence in police interviews, and you choosing not to give evidence in your defence, we will perhaps never know what triggered this outburst of horrific violence.”
DCI Matthew Connick, who led the manhunt, 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.”
