Woman attacked in public toilet dies after man arrested for attempted murder

Victim suffered head injuries in assault in quiet Dartmoor village

A police cordon was put up around the area while officers looked for evidence (DevonLive)

A man is being questioned by police after a woman in her 60s died following an attack in a public toilet in a quiet Devon village.

Police said the woman suffered “significant and life-threatening” head injuries while in the lavatory block at Yelverton, on the south-western edge of Dartmoor.

While she was fighting for life in hospital for two days, police said they were treating the attack as an attempted murder.

Detectives cordoned off the four-cubicle toilet block near a church and erected forensic tents.

A 68-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and released on police bail. Officers said he was being looked after by “health professionals”.

Police said he and the woman knew each other.

Ambulance crews called police to the scene near the village centre on Friday afternoon and took the woman, from Plymouth, to Derriford Hospital, where she died on Sunday afternoon.

Detective Chief Inspector Roy Linden, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “I would like to thank the public for the great response to our appeal. We have received a significant amount of information which has allowed us to progress our investigation.

“Sadly, I can confirm that the victim passed away in hospital this morning. Her death is currently being treated as unexplained and we are not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident.

“I’m keen to hear from any witnesses and anyone with information who has not yet come forward to police. We would like to speak to anyone who was in Yelverton in the vicinity of the shops and the area of Meavy Lane, from around 1:30pm on Friday.

“I’d also urge any drivers who were in the area at the time who have dashcam footage to contact us.”