Brutal attacker jailed for 29 years after leaving woman for dead in Newcastle field
Thug’s savage assault shocks Newcastle
Matthew Stevens, 28, has been locked up for nearly three decades after a savage attempt to murder a woman. The chilling attack left his victim half-naked and fighting for her life in a field near Brunswick Village, Newcastle.
Victim lured and left to die
The court heard Stevens met the woman on a night out on March 10, 2022. He then lured her into a taxi, ignoring her desperate pleas to be taken home. CCTV footage caught them walking towards nearby fields at around 3am minutes before the brutal assault.
A dog walker discovered the victim bleeding and barely conscious, her clothes scattered in the grass. She was rushed to hospital, but the trauma was so severe she couldn’t recall the attack.
Evidence secured, justice served
- Police tracked Stevens via phone records, witness accounts, and CCTV.
- Blood-stained clothing and the victim’s bracelets were recovered from his home.
- Following a six-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Stevens was found guilty of attempted murder.
Today, he was sentenced to 29 years behind bars plus an extended licence of three years.
Police statement: “Stevens is a danger to women and society”
“Stevens is a danger to women and to wider society, and I am pleased with the sentence handed down,” said Detective Inspector Tam Fowler of Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team.
“He took a lone woman where she didn’t want to go, beat her nearly to death, and then went home to sleep like nothing happened. There’s no place for this kind of abhorrent behaviour in our communities.”
“The victim has shown incredible strength throughout, facing her attacker in court. I hope this sentence brings her some closure and the chance to move on. Violence like this is never acceptable. Thanks to officers, staff, and witnesses who helped bring this dangerous man to justice.”
