Police officer jailed for trying to murder girlfriend because she wanted to break up with him
A POLICE officer was yesterday jailed for trying to murder his girlfriend because she wanted to break up with him.
James Riley, 28, choked PhD student Ellie Moxham, who is in her early 20s, until she fell unconscious at a hotel.
The PC called his family before anonymously requesting an ambulance and then fled the Premier Inn in Manchester.
Miss Moxham was taken to hospital where she was put in an induced coma.
She now has cognitive difficulties.
The couple had bought a house together in 2021.
Riley, of Preston, Lancs, was sacked from Lancashire Constabulary and yesterday was jailed at Manchester crown court for 16 years after admitting attempted murder.
Judge Patrick Field KC told him: “Consumed by uncontrollable anger and rage, you attacked her with murderous intent.”
He said that Miss Moxham had no memory of the assault, but it was “clear” that Riley “gripped her throat and strangled her with such force over a significant period that her brain was starved of oxygen”.
This caused her to lose consciousness and suffer profound injuries which has led to continuing cognitive difficulties.
Detective Superintendent Zoe Mainey, Head of Professional Standards from Lancashire Police, said: “James Riley’s behaviour clearly fell very far short of what we demand of our officers and staff, both on and off duty.”