Man appears in court after 71 year old woman attacked in Worcester

A man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a 71-year-old woman was attacked in Worcester.

Police were called to Kleve Walk near the city centre at around 2am on Sunday, after reports that she had sustained knife wounds. She remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Anthony Roberts, 56, of Amber Heights, Green Hill, Worcester, has also been charged with sexual assault and possession of a bladed article in a public place. He appeared before Kidderminster Magistrates' Court this morning.

There was no application for bail and Roberts was remanded to appear at the city's crown court on June 5.

West Mercia Police have said the woman, who was attacked near the River Severn in the early hours of Sunday, remains in hospital in a critical condition.

He was flanked by a security officer in the glass-fronted dock and looked downwards for much of the hearing, which heard legal submissions from prosecutor Kate Hatton and defence lawyer Mark Turnbull.

The West Mercia force has said the woman was taken to hospital after police were called just after 2am on Sunday to an area close to the city centre.

Superintendent Rebecca Love reassured the public that police were treating the attack as "an isolated incident".

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