An OAP who suffered a stroke was brutally sexually assaulted while she lay in her hospital bed and bled to death as she was unable to fight back. Valerie Kneale's family thought they lost her to a stroke but the disturbing results of a routine post-mortem examination revealed the horrifying truth.
The 75-year-old gran died from her injuries, the Mirror reports. The pathologist performing the post-mortem immediately raised the alarm with police who have now launched a murder inquiry.
Officers are concerned the attacker is still on the loose and believes he has likely carried out strikes before and may well strike again. Valerie had been at home with her husband Bill when she had the first stroke during her dinner and was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 12, 2018.
By the afternoon, she was sitting up in bed and talking to her family who trusted they were leaving her in safe hands. That evening however Valerie suffered another stroke and never regained consciousness.
It's not known whether she was attacked before or after the second stroke. The lead investigator in the case, Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston said Valerie bled to death in the horrific attack.
An inquest heard the pensioner had suffered a terrible internal injury with the pathologist saying they 'felt it was caused by a forcible sexual assault after she was admitted hospital'. Valerie's case was highlighted on the BBC Crimewatch Live programme on Tuesday morning and led to Crimestoppers offering a £20,00 reward for anyone that comes forward with any information that leads to a conviction.
Speaking on Crimewatch, Valerie's niece Lisa Jaffier expressed the family's anger that someone could cruelly attack her aunt 'when she was unable to defend herself'. Paying tribute to her aunty Val, she described her as a 'wonderful, lovely person' who 'was fun, loved people and enjoyed life'.
She added: "She had this really lovely skill of making you feel so special and so loved. She was checked over and she was doing ok, she was sat up, communicating, obviously she was going to have challenges in her recovery, but we were all hopeful of a positive outcome.
"Her children wanted to stay with her that evening, but the hospital said she was in the best place, there is no need and she is going to be absolutely fine."
During Valerie's first night in hospital, she had another stroke and her family were told the outcome was not looking good so made the decision to not have any further treatment. She died on November 16 surrounded by her family.
Lisa said the family were not looking for answers and expected the post mortem to say she died of a stroke but were absolutely horrified to discover the sinister truth. She said: "To think that someone did that to a lovely person at a time when she was helpless, at her most vulnerable, where she couldn't shout out, she couldn't defend herself".
Also speaking on the programme, Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston from Lancashire Police said she was shocked when she heard the evidence from the pathologist. She said: "I couldn't believe someone could be assaulted in this way, such a serious assault, whilst in hospital and I really was truly shocked.
"One of the hardest things in this investigation was telling Mrs Kneale's family, that there mother and grandmother, who they thought had died of a stroke, had actual died as a result of a serious violent attack."
DCI Johnston said they have already interviewed thousands of people who were working in the hospital as well as visitors and patients to piece together a timeline. However, four years later the sick attacker has still not been identified.
She added: "There's a real worry to the investigation and to the hospital that this could be just one of a number of attacks. This may be at the hands of someone who is a predator.
"And who may have committed previous attacks of this nature, and may continue to do so. We remain fully committed to finding Valerie’s killer.
"We know someone will have information key to our investigation. We know someone can help us find the person responsible.
“We believe the reward offer from the independent charity Crimestoppers will help provide that key piece of information to help unlock the case. For four years Valerie’s family have been left devastated by her death – they want and deserve justice.
“We know someone has had this on their conscience for more than four years now. Do the right thing. Come forward and speak to police – help us to solve this terrible crime.
“Our priority and the priority of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is to ensure the safety of patients. We continue to support Valerie’s family and they are being kept fully updated by a specially trained officer.
“Again I ask anyone with information to come forward. If you provide information which leads to the conviction of an individual, you could receive a reward of £20,000.
“Please call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week or use a secure, anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org “Crimestoppers cannot trace your call or track your IP address and never ask for or record any personal information.”
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said its thoughts are with Mrs Kneale's family and it is co-operating fully with the police investigation. A health care professional who was arrested in 2021 on suspicion of murder was later eliminated from the investigation.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
