Bury St Edmunds man Stephen Byrne in court after woman stabbed while walking her dog on Howard Estate in St Olaves Road

A man has appeared in court today after a woman was stabbed while walking her dog in Bury St Edmunds.

Police were called just after 10.25pm on Wednesday to reports that a woman had been stabbed in St Olaves Road.

The woman, in her 50s, was walking her dog when she was approached from behind by a man, who was not known to her, and stabbed.

She was taken to West Suffolk Hospital where her injuries were confirmed as not life threatening or life changing.

She has since been discharged from hospital.

A 58-year-old man was arrested 30 minutes after the incident. A cordon was in place around St Olaves Precinct car park.

Stephen Byrne, of Hodson Close in Bury St Edmunds, was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

He appeared before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich today and was remanded in custody to next appear at Ipswich Crown Court on July 14.