Police cars in a road in leeds
Murder investigation launched after death of woman who was found unconscious with serious injuries.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a 21-year-old woman who was found unconscious with serious injuries.

Police said officers were called to Springwell Road in the Holbeck area of Leeds early on Wednesday and found the victim, thought to have been a sex worker, with “injuries consistent with an assault”.

The woman was taken to Leeds general infirmary but was pronounced dead a short time later.

Det Supt Simon Atkinson, of West Yorkshire police, said: “A young woman has lost her life in violent circumstances and it is absolutely vital that anyone who saw anything suspicious during the evening and into the early hours contacts us immediately.” He confirmed that a 38-year-old man had been arrested.

“We are treating this woman’s death as murder and a full investigation has been launched,” he said. “Our inquiries are -currently at a very early stage and we would like to hear from anyone who was in the area of Springwell Road between 8pm last night and about 1.30am this morning.”

Ch Supt Paul Money, Leeds district commander for the force, said: “We are acutely aware that the murder of this young woman will cause understandable concern in the community and we are keen to reassure people that we are doing everything we can to support and assist the investigation to trace the person responsible. Officers will be focusing increased patrols in the area for the foreseeable future to provide a visible reassurance to people.”

Atkinson said officers know the woman’s identity but her name is not being released until her family have been informed. He said she was found by another sex worker who alerted a member of the public.


The detective said: “We can confirm that the victim was a sex worker and the incident has taken place in the managed area where sex workers operate within a defined area during set hours.

“We are therefore appealing to anyone involved in any aspect of sex work in the managed area in Holbeck to let us know anything they have seen or heard that could assist the investigation.”