African kidnap victim is Royston social worker

A WOMAN who was kidnapped in Africa during a botched attack that killed her husband is a dedicated social worker at a psychiatric hospital near Royston.

Judith Tebbutt was on holiday with David, 58, at the remote resort Kiwayu Safari Village, close to the Kenyan border with Somalia, when the attack happened during the early hours of Sunday.

As a member of the social work team at the Partnerships in Care Kneesworth House, in Bassingbourn, for seven years, the 56-year-old, of Bishops Stortford, worked closely with patients with psychiatric difficulties.

A spokeswoman for Kneesworth House said: “Jude has been with the company for seven years and is a dedicated team member known to many of the patients and staff at the hospital.”

Police in Kenya have allegedly arrested a man suspected of being involved in the murder of David and kidnap of his wife and the Kenyan military have joined the hunt for Mrs Tebbutt.

Officials have said the Tebbutts were attacked on the first night of their stay at the resort, with reports suggesting that bandits broke into their accommodation.

There are suspicions that the gang, thought to be from Somalia, used a speedboat to get away from the isolated island resort, which has played host to artist Tracey Emin, actress Imelda Staunton and reportedly Sir Mick Jagger.

The couple had come from visiting the Masai Mara reserve and were the resort’s only guests.