CCTV captures moment jealous police officer, 28, flees from Premier Inn after trying to kill his ex-girlfriend by throttling her and putting a plastic bag over her head
- James Riley, 28, was jailed for 16 years for the attempted murder of Ellie Moxham
- The former Lancashire Police officer flew into a ‘jealous’ rage in November 2022
- CCTV footage revealed Riley’s movements after the incident
By Richard Marsden[1] and Megan Howe[2]
Published: 20:24, 12 January 2024 | Updated: 20:38, 12 January 2024
CCTV footage has revealed how a police officer attempted to evade capture after trying to kill his ex-partner by throttling her and putting a plastic bag over her head.
James Riley, 28, was jailed for 16 years today for attempted murder, after what a judge told him was a ‘brutal and determined’ two-minute attempt on academic Ellie Moxham’s life.
The former Lancashire Police[3] officer flew into a ‘jealous’ rage on November 10, 2022, leaving Ms Moxham with a long-lasting brain injury from oxygen deprivation, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Ms Moxham, then aged 24, was ‘persuaded’ to go to a Sigrid concert in Manchester which the former couple had booked some months earlier, and stay the night in a Premier Inn hotel.
Riley was hoping to ‘rekindle’ their relationship, which began when they were both undergraduate students at Lancaster University years earlier, but attacked Ms Moxham with ‘murderous intent’, after she texted her new partner Alex Gough.
James Riley, 28, was jailed for 16 years today for attempted murder, after what a judge told him was a ‘brutal and determined’ two-minute attempt on academic Ellie Moxham’s life
After fleeing the Premier Inn, Riley spent 11 minutes on the phone to his parents – telling them ‘I’ve killed Ellie’ – before eventually calling an ambulance then fleeing the scene to ‘save his own skin’
CCTV footage revealed Riley’s movements after the incident, highlighting his intention to evade capture by making two GBP250 cash transactions from different ATMs and getting rid of his mobile phone to ensure he could not be tracked
CCTV footage revealed Riley’s movements after the incident, highlighting his intention to evade capture by making two GBP250 cash transactions from different ATMs and getting rid of his mobile phone to ensure he could not be tracked.
After fleeing the Premier Inn, Riley spent 11 minutes on the phone to his parents – telling them ‘I’ve killed Ellie’ – before eventually calling an ambulance then fleeing the scene to ‘save his own skin’.
Ms Moxham, who was a PhD student at Lancaster University, was initially put into an induced coma and spent a day in intensive care.
Alex Leach KC, prosecuting, said Riley flew into a rage after Ms Moxham exchanged text messages with her new partner.
It followed ‘a history of jealousy, abuse or coercive behaviour’, Mr Leach said.
Sentencing, Judge Patrick Field, KC, said: ‘As a result of becoming consumed by an uncontrollable anger and a jealous rage, you attacked her with murderous intent.’
James Riley (pictured) who has been jailed for 16 years after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the attempted murder of his his ex-girlfriend
Ms Moxham (pictured) told of her anguish at how Riley had ‘dragged out’ the court process, initially admitting causing grievous bodily harm with intent and only pleading guilty to attempted murder last November
Detective Sergeant Heidi Cullum, of Greater Manchester Police, said after the case: ‘As a profession, we’re all hurt by Riley’s actions’
Ms Moxham, who is continuing her environmental studies PhD and is also a lecturer, read a victim impact statement from behind a curtain, telling how she is still suffering from the attack 14 months on.
She appeared tearful after addressing the court, when she said: ‘The task of putting into words how that terrible night has impacted my life seems impossible.’
The brain injury had left her with a ‘cognitive fatigue which affects me daily’, she recalled – having to take three naps a day, falling behind with her doctorate and having difficulties with her memory.
Ms Moxham told of her anguish at how Riley had ‘dragged out’ the court process, initially admitting causing grievous bodily harm with intent and only pleading guilty to attempted murder last November.
She said that while Riley’s position with Lancashire Constabulary meant it seemed he ‘could be trusted’, there had been ‘intense manipulation’ throughout their relationship.
The court heard he took a ‘possessive interest’ in her communications and Ms Moxham said he would berate her about cooking and the cleanliness of the house they bought together in Preston, Lancashire, in 2021, making her feel ‘worthless’.
Mr Leach, prosecuting, told how the attack happened soon after Riley and Ms Moxham entered the bedroom just after 11pm
Judge Field said Riley was ‘acting to save his own skin’ by fleeing and ‘abandoning Ellie’, who the paramedic judged to have a life-threatening brain injury
Even after his arrest and while on remand, she said Riley ‘used the house we owned together to subject me to financial abuse’.
She had wanted to sell the house ‘to obtain my share as soon as possible’ – but she said Riley’s parents told her they would instead buy her out.
But this did not happen and, when Riley was later sacked and his pay stopped, she was left with responsibility for the mortgage, forcing her into debt and ruining her credit rating to the point she could not even take out a mobile phone contract.
Ms Moxham added when Riley’s parents arranged for the contents to be sold, they took away furniture including a mirror given to her by her aunt which she had wanted to keep.
Although Ms Moxham cannot remember the attack, she has nightmares about being strangled, suffers anxiety and is undergoing therapy.
But she said that having continued her relationship with Mr Gough, a fellow Lancaster University academic, she is working to put the ‘terrible’ events behind her and has had ‘some of the best memories’ over the past year.
Mr Leach, prosecuting, told how the attack happened soon after Riley and Ms Moxham entered the bedroom just after 11pm.
Mr Leach went on: ‘At 23.15, James Riley called his parents. His father answered and James Riley said: ‘I’ve killed Ellie and I’m going to kill myself. I just wanted to say goodbye’.’
The court heard the call lasted 11 minutes, during which Riley’s mother Karen called police.
Riley called an ambulance at 11.27pm, saying Ms Moxham was breathing ‘raspily’.
He left a towel holding the bedroom door open and fled, initially getting into his Ford Fiesta in the neighbouring car park but abandoning it after crashing.
Riley then took a taxi to his parents’ home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where he arrived at around 4am.
Once inside, his parents locked the doors and called the police but Riley locked himself in the bathroom, escaping through the window.
Police found him in the vicinity.
Judge Field said Riley was ‘acting to save his own skin’ by fleeing and ‘abandoning Ellie’, who the paramedic judged to have a life-threatening brain injury.
He added Riley is a ‘dangerous’ individual who poses a risk to future partners.
David James, defending, admitted he acted in a ‘cowardly’ way, recognised the ‘harm’ caused and wanted to apologise to Ms Moxham and her family.
Detective Sergeant Heidi Cullum, of Greater Manchester Police, said after the case: ‘As a profession, we’re all hurt by Riley’s actions.’
References
- ^ Richard Marsden (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Megan Howe (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Lancashire Police (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Lancashire Police (www.dailymail.co.uk)