Detectives believe missing jacket and phone hold vital clues as they continue hunt for attacker who left female dog walker unconscious on country track

Detectives are hunting an assailant who left a female dog walker for dead on a remote country track.

The woman in her 50s was found unconscious and with a serious head injury on a country track in Brantham, Suffolk, on Wednesday July 24.

A missing jacket and phone the dog walker had with her before she was attacked could hold vital clues to what happened, police have said.

Detectives said they are keeping an 'open mind' following the attack that left the woman in a critical condition and has sparked an attempted murder probe.

In a police press conference on July 25, Superintendent Mike Brown confirmed there was a search for the victim's jacket and phone which could hold 'significant information or evidence'.

Detective Superintendent Brown said: 'We're still very early on in the investigation so how the jacket we believe that she was wearing, the phone we believe the victim had with her at the time have come away or no longer with her.

'It's very important we try and locate these items because they could hold significant information or evidence that may allow us to really understand what has happened here.

'The victim does have significant head injuries but at the moment we are unable, at this early stage, to say exactly how those have been inflicted.

'There are also brain injuries that we're aware of from the hospital. She does remain sedated but she does remain in a critical condition.

'She does have her family with her and we are supporting the family.

'We are following a number of lines of enquiry. It is still very early in this investigation - we've kept a very, very open mind into what may have happened.

'An attack like this in Suffolk is incredibly rare. It is very horrific. It's disturbing when you hear the details of any incident like this.

'Obviously, violence against women and girls is very high on the agenda at the moment and we will always deal with any violence, no matter what level, with the right approach.'

The woman, who was walking her dog, was found injured and unconscious on a track near to Rectory Lane at about 6.30am by a member of the public, who called 999 and tried to assist her.

The victim's dog, a Springer Spaniel, had stayed with her while she was unconscious and is said to be safe and unharmed.

People in Brantham expressed their shock at the news of the incident on Thursday morning.

Bradley James, 28, a tractor driver who lives in the area, said: 'Dog walkers always use these paths.

'It's quite tragic, really - you don't get anything like that happening in this village.

'A lot of people are a bit nervous to go walking their dogs. My mum is scared because you don't know what's going on.'

Ian Swan, 58, from nearby Mistley, added: 'It always seems very safe down there usually.

'There's plenty people of around - I've never been out here and not met someone.

'But I've never heard of any problems down here.'

Rosie Rawlinson said she walked her dogs three to four times a day along the route but 'absolutely' felt she could continue doing so.

She said: 'Nothing like this has ever happened like this in the four and a half years I've been here. I was scared this morning on my early walk, I must admit.'