Dog walker stabbed in park - and beloved pet didn't leave his side

12 August 2023 , 11:11

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Roger Leadbeater, 74, died in an attack in Sheffield on Wednesday (Image: MEN Media)

A beloved dog was found standing by its owner's side after he was stabbed in a UK park, it has emerged.

Roger Leadbeater, 74, was attacked as he walked his springer spaniel Max in parkland in the Westfield area of Sheffield.

He suffered multiple stab wounds to his chest and died at the scene of the attack just before 11pm on Wednesday, reports Yorkshire Live.

Roger worked for the city council, and drove children with special needs to school. In an emotional statement, his family paid tribute to the "kind, gentle soul" - and revealed that his beloved Max was still there while Roger was on the ground injured.

The family statement read: "Roger was a 74-year-old man out walking his beloved dog, Max, when his life was taken in the most brutal and cruel way. Even as Roger lay fatally injured, Max never left his side.

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"Roger doted on his family and was a good, hard-working and decent man. Even at 74, he still worked for Sheffield City Council, driving children to school with special needs. As a family, we can barely believe such a kind, gentle soul could be taken in such a way."

A post-mortem confirmed Roger had died from multiple stab wounds. South Yorkshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Andrea Bowell, leading the investigation, said: “I know incidents like this can have a devastating impact on the wider community and I want to reassure you we are working around the clock to piece together the circumstances of what happened on Wednesday evening that led to Roger's tragic death.

"The community who live in the area will continue to see an increased police presence in Westfield as the murder investigation continues at pace. If you see our officers, please don't hesitate to stop and speak to them - they are there to support the community at these most difficult of times.”

• A 32-year-old woman from Bolton has been charged in connection with the incident, police said. She has been remanded in custody and will appear before Sheffield Magistrate’s Court today.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas