Laurence Worville, 51, who tried to kill his estranged wife by deliberately driving at her and beating her with a baseball bat, has been jailed for 24 years18:47, 09 Jul 2026Updated 00:43, 13 Jul 2026A "cruel" and "calculating" man who tried to kill his estranged wife by deliberately driving at her and beating her with a baseball bat has been jailed for 24 years.‌Laurence Worville, 51, formerly of Spring Bank West, denied attempted murder but was found guilty by a jury at Hull Crown Court. The attack happened in Hull on May 7 last year and left the woman in hospital for 10 days with a badly broken leg, a deep cut to the back of her head and a broken finger.‌Worville had been released from prison just days before the attack and tracked the woman down by sneaking into his former workplace at Royal Mail to obtain mail redirection details showing where she had moved after fleeing the matrimonial home. He had previously served time for assaulting her.‌During his trial, Worville said he was angry that his wife had allowed his koi carp to die while he was in prison, Hull Live reports.Worville would have 'almost certainly' killed the woman had passersby not intervenedJudge John Thackray KC said the CCTV footage of the attack was "truly horrifying". It showed Worville accelerating towards the woman, ploughing into her and pinning her against railings in Chanterlands Avenue. He then got out of his silver Volkswagen Polo and repeatedly battered her over the head with a baseball bat he had bought the previous day.He was restrained by men passing by, who were named in court, while a woman, who was also named, tended to the severely injured victim.‌Judge Thackray told Worville: "You were plotting to kill your wife over a number of days prior to the attack. You did not see her by chance on the morning of the attack as you claimed. You were actively looking for her in order to kill her and that was the purpose of carrying the baseball bat."But for the intervention of those brave men who intervened, you would have continued the attack and almost certainly have killed her."He added: "The cries and screaming of your wife as she was pinned to the railings by the car and then attacked with the bat were truly horrific.‌"You showed no remorse at the scene, on the contrary, you repeatedly shouted that you hoped the injuries were hurting her. During the trial you did not show a jot of genuine remorse."You are a master at minimisation as confirmed by the pre-sentence report. You had the astonishing temerity to try and justify your attack by complaining that your wife had not looked after your koi carp whilst you were in prison for attacking her."Worville breached a restraining order banning him from contacting the womanNick Adlington, prosecuting, said Worville, a former Royal Mail employee, broke into the company's depot in St Peter's Street, Hull, on May 6 last year and stole mail redirection stickers revealing where his wife was living. The following day, he drove there armed with a baseball bat.‌Mr Adlington said Worville deliberately drove onto the pavement and into the woman as she walked along, knocking her to the ground and pinning her against iron railings in what he described as a "terrifying attack"."Then he got out of the car and attacked her on the floor with the baseball bat," said Mr Adlington. "He carried on attacking her with the baseball bat until he was physically restrained by passing members of the public."Worville was in breach of a restraining order imposed by Hull Magistrates' Court on April 17 last year, which barred him from contacting his estranged wife. He had previously admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two assaults against the woman, and was given a community order alongside the restraining order.‌Mitigating, Andrea Parnham submitted a letter expressing her client's remorse. She said her client had mental health difficulties and had dropped the bat when he was confronted.Victim urges anyone who recognises themselves in a similar situation to speak outIn a victim impact statement read out by Mr Adlington, the woman said: "My anxiety levels go through the roof when I go past that road where it happened. I am in constant fear when I think 'What if?'." She has a titanium rod in her leg and walks with a limp and has permanent scars.Judge Thackray sentenced Worville to 24 years in prison with a further four years on licence after finding he posed a serious risk to the public.‌The judge said those who intervened or came to the woman's aid would receive commendations from the chief constable.David Cattle stopped Worville from continuing the attack, disarming him and restraining him until police arrived. Jay Wainwright helped restrain Worville and moved the car off the victim with the assistance of David Makey.Kirsty Meyerhoff and cafe owner John Cheeseman were also commended for tending to the woman until paramedics arrived.‌After the sentencing hearing, the victim said: "I never thought I would ever be put in this position, or that something like this would ever happen to me. Without the heroic actions of those who came to my aid that day, it would have been a very different outcome; I have no doubt that they saved my life."I will be forever grateful for all the support Humberside Police has given me throughout the entirety of the investigation, alongside Domestic Abuse Partnership (DAP) as well, for standing by my side every step of the way. My NHS family; it’s been a long road but thank you for getting me back on my feet, and to my friends and family – you have been, and always will be, my rocks."My final plea goes to anyone who recognises themselves in this situation or has been affected after hearing what happened to me, please reach out and talk to someone. Whether that’s a trusted friend or family member, the police, charity or support agency, please tell someone. I wish I had done it sooner, but now I am overwhelmed with the result and that Worville is finally behind bars where he belongs."‌Worville is a 'dangerous, conniving individual'Detective Inspector Helen Collier, from the force's Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Investigation Team, said: "Worville is a cruel and calculating man who set out that day armed with two weapons - his car and a baseball bat - to cause fear, alarm, and attempt to kill an innocent woman he knew."Not only this, but in his obsession with her, he sought her out the day before by committing a burglary at a business premises to find out where she had moved to. In the sinister footage that was released after he was found guilty; you can also see him purchase a baseball bat just before the incident."He then ploughed into her with his car, speeding up as he got closer to her as she was walking down the street before repeatedly assaulting her, causing serious injuries to her body. All of which she is still bravely recovering from, both mentally and physically.Article continues below"I would like to thank the members of the public who came to the woman’s aid that day and heroically intervened, restraining Worville until police arrived at the scene to arrest him, despite being threatened by Worville wielding a bat themselves."Worville then refused to admit that he went out that day with the intent to kill her, instead claiming grievous bodily harm. This charge was not accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and the indictment of attempted murder was brought forward, meaning Worville forced the woman to endure the terrifying details all over again during the trial. This is not only cruel, but cowardly."Worville is a dangerous, conniving individual who subjected a woman to an unimaginable attack which left her spending 10 days in hospital."