Anita Rose: Man arrested for 'murder' of mum-of-six dog walker last seen in striking pink jacket

Anita Rose, 57, was found unconscious with serious head injuries in Brantham, Suffolk, on July 24 and died four days later. Suffolk Police have now arrested a man aged 55

A 55-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of dog walker Anita Rose, police have said.

The mother-of-six left her house to take her springer spaniel Bruce for a walk at around 5am on Wednesday, July 24. The 57-year-old woman was found unconscious with serious head injuries near Rectory Lane in Brantham at around 6.25am, and died four days later.

The suspect was arrested in Ipswich and is being questioned at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre, where he remains. Specialist officers are supporting Anita's family and keeping them updated on the investigation.

Last week, Anita's daughter Jessica Cox issued a plea for her attacker to be found. Speaking on BBC's Crimewatch Live, Jessica said: "We don't understand how someone could brutally, horrifically attack someone when they're walking their dog. I really want anyone that has any information, however small or insignificant they think it may be, to come forward and speak to the police.

"We need to find the person that done this to my mum. They need to face justice. It won't be enough but they've done it to my mum and they could do it to somebody else and they're still out there." Independent charity Crimestoppers offered a £20,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of anybody involved in the death of Ms Rose.

Ms Cox also described her mother as a "beautiful, strong, independent woman" who was "funny and so kind". She continued: "My mum's got six kids, I've got four brothers and a sister, and she looks after all of us, and she loved to spend time with all of us, with all of her grandchildren. My mum has a long-term partner, Richard. They've been together 13 years. They adored each other and mum was planning on growing old with him. My mum dotes on us all and we miss her."

She said her mother moved to Brantham around six years ago and "loved the area, literally loved walking and seeing people in the community" and that "she felt safe". Ms Cox added: "Mum would get up early to walk Bruce in the mornings so that he had a good walk before she went to work. Being a springer he needed a lot of exercise."

She described Ms Rose's funeral last month as "a difficult day because we shouldn't be having to have a funeral for my mum". She told the programme: "She's 57 years old and she had so much to live for, so much she was looking forward to. She was supposed to be on holiday right now. We haven't got our mum and our mum isn't here to look after us any more. My mum is going to miss out on birthdays, the birth of my nephew, her grandson, she's going to miss my brother getting married next year."

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick told Crimewatch Live that a male cyclist heading towards the railway station found Ms Rose unconscious on a path near a water sewage plant at 6.25am. "He could see facial injuries and immediately called an ambulance," Mr Connick said. "Bruce, her dog, was by her side with the lead wrapped round her leg."

He said a pink Regatta waterproof jacket that Ms Rose had been wearing had been stolen from her, along with her Galaxy Earbud headphones, which may have been in the jacket pocket, and her iPhone. Mr Connick said the phone was recovered in Ipswich three days later, on July 27, and arrests have been made in relation to that.