John Heald charged with murder of seaside landlady and ten rapes

A MAN at the centre of a week-long police hunt following the death of a guest house landlady in Bridlington was today charged with her murder and ten counts of rape.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jul 2014, 17:20 BST
John HealdJohn Heald
John Heald

John Heald, 53, was arrested in the Rotherham area last week. A police operation had been under way involving more than 150 officers since the murder of Bei Carter, 49, who was found dead at Morayland Hotel, Marshall Avenue, Bridlington, the previous Friday.

Today the Crown Prosecution Service said Heald would face a murder charge and ten offences of rape in South Yorkshire on the same day.

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Adrienne Gower, Senior District Crown Prosecutor, said: “Having carefully considered all of the evidence presented to us, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge John Heald with ten offences of rape in South Yorkshire on 13 July 2014 and the murder of Bei Carter in Bridlington on 18 July 2014.”

Ms Carter’s death shocked the Bridlington seaside community. Police said she and her family returned to the UK from China only a couple of years ago.

Earlier this week, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Baldwin, from Humberside Police, said: “They’ve become members of the community.

“This has not only had a huge effect on the family but also on the community of guest house owners in Bridlington.”