Thursday 30 June 2022

A BEVERLEY man who attacked a woman walking home alone along Hull Bridge Road has been jailed for seven years. Matthew Littlefield, of Highfield Road, Beverley, appeared in court for sentence after earlier being found guilty of the serious assault which took place last October.

He was told he will serve a minimum of two-thirds of the sentence before being eligible for parole and has been sentenced to an additional three years on licence when released. Det. Con. Paul Chatterton, who investigated the case, said: “This was an extremely distressing attack on a lone woman as she walked home from what had been a pleasant evening in Beverley with her friend. 

“Matthew Littlefield assaulted her, punching her face and, with the clear intent to commit a sexual offence, he then attempted to drag her into a wooded area before being disturbed by members of the public.’’ He said Littlefield intended to rape his victim and continued: “The determination, bravery and quick thinking of the victim meant she managed to escape her attacker and raise the alarm. She and her family have been traumatised by the incident and I commend her for bravery in providing a victim statement to the court, and her bravery throughout the proceedings.

“I want to thank the victim for her stoicism as we have gone through the criminal justice system, her victim statement and support throughout the investigation have been invaluable in bringing a dangerous individual to justice and putting him behind bars.” 

THE POPULATIONS of Hull and the East Riding have grown over the last decade but there are less children aged four and under, according to the latest census figures. Figures from the 2021 Census released this week showed Hull’s population grew by 4.2 per cent, from 256,406 to 267,100. The total number of residents of the East Riding rose from 334,179 to 342,200, up by 2.4 per cent since the previous census was taken in 2011.