Brutal Attack in Newcastle: Man Jailed for Attempted Murder
Matthew Stevens, 28, was found guilty of attempted murder after a harrowing six-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court in December. The chilling case involved a night out turned nightmare for the victim on March 10, 2022.
Night Out Turns Nightmare
Stevens met his victim during a night on the town. He later coaxed her into a taxi, ignoring her desperate pleas to be taken home, and drove her to Brunswick Village, Newcastle. CCTV footage captures the pair walking along Drysdale Crescent towards nearby fields just before Stevens launched a savage attack at around 3am.
The victim was left naked and barely conscious in the grass, suffering severe facial swelling. A dog walker found her in the early hours and called for immediate medical help. She was rushed to hospital, where she received critical care but was too traumatised to recall the attack.
Evidence Led to Arrest
Police pieced together the grim events using telecom data from Stevens’ phone, witness accounts, and CCTV footage. Upon arresting Stevens at his home, officers found blood-stained clothes and recovered the victim’s bracelets, linking him directly to the assault.
Harsh Sentence Handed Down
Stevens, who lives on Drysdale Crescent, was sentenced on Monday to 29 years in prison with an additional three years of extended licence. Detective Inspector Tam Fowler, leading the Major Investigation Team, slammed Stevens as a “danger to women and wider society.”
“He dragged a lone woman into a taxi, took her somewhere she didn’t want to go, then beat her nearly to death before returning home to sleep as if nothing happened. There’s no place for this in our communities,” said DI Fowler.
“I hope the sentence gives the victim some closure. Despite the trauma, she showed incredible courage in facing her attacker in court. Justice has been served.”
DI Fowler also thanked all officers, staff, and witnesses who helped bring a violent man to justice, ensuring he cannot harm anyone else.
