A MAN is due to appear in court later today (Wednesday) charged with the murder of Crowthorne mum, Jackie Pattenden.

Michael Rough, aged 55, of Ellis Road, Crowthorne, was charged by Thames Valley Police yesterday with one count of murder.

Rough was arrested following the death of Mrs Pattenden at his home on Sunday, October 2.

Police were called at 11.30pm on Sunday night. Rough, the owner of Wentworth Tree Care Ltd, was later taken to Reading Royal Berkshire Hospital to be treated for stab wounds

After being charged yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), Rough was remanded in custody to appear at Reading Magistrates' Court today. 

Mrs Pattenden, 53, was a personal assistant to a top Broadmoor psychiatrist and she had only recently recovered from cancer.

Earlier this week her son, Phil Pattenden, paid tribute to his "amazing mother". 

In a statement, hel said: “It is with great sadness that Jackie, my mother was taken from us too soon.

“She was an amazing mother, sister, cousin, niece and friend; much loved by everyone she came into contact with for her kind, caring and chatty nature.

“We can not comprehend the massive loss that we all feel or even begin to process what has happened because so much is currently left unanswered.

“All we want is to lay mum to rest and give her the send-off she deserves. We also want justice so we can start to begin the grieving process.”

Phil described Ms Pattenden as ‘extremely hard working’ who had just turned a corner by ending her last round of medication for cancer earlier this year.

He added: “None of us had seen her happier; she had just come off her cancer medication, recently been promoted and seemed to really be getting her life back.

“To be taken away so soon just seems such a massive shame.

"Mum will now never get to see the day I get married, or live to see the grandchildren that she always wanted, all her efforts went into me/family and she hasn’t got to experience any of these natural joys of life.

"It is such a huge loss, affecting so many.”