Moment coward cop flees after trying to kill his girlfriend in ‘brutal’ attack – leaving her to die at Premier Inn
THIS is the moment a cop flees on a bus after a “brutal and determined attempt” to kill his ex in a Premier Inn.
James Riley, 28, strangled Ellie Moxham following an evening in Manchester where he thought their relationship would be rekindled.
As she lay unconscious on the floor, he rang his parents to tell them: “I’ve killed Ellie and I’m going to kill myself I just wanted to say goodbye.”
After calling an ambulance he fled but crashed his car before trying to cover his tracks by getting on a bus.
Manchester Crown Court heard how Riley attacked Ms Moxham after their relationship, which began when they met at Lancaster University, had fallen apart and they had begun seeing other people.
Their relationship was marred by Riley’s “recurrent anger, aggression and jealousy” after they had moved in together.
On the night of November 10, 2022, the pair went to a concert at the O2 Apollo with tickets they had bought when they were still together.
They also visited restaurants and bars, with Riley thinking it could lead to a “rekindling” of their relationship.
The court heard how after getting back to the hotel, a “jealous” Riley admitted “seeing red” when Ms Moxham said they weren’t getting back together.
He then grabbed her by the neck in an “instant and spontaneous reaction” and they fell from the bed.
Riley then put a bag over Ms Moxham’s head.
He phoned his parents before calling for an ambulance at around 11.30pm and fled the Brook Street hotel by the fire escape.
Shocking footage shows Riley, of Preston, Lancs, careering out of a multi-storey car park in his car before crashing nearby.
He ran from the scene and attempted to get on a bus, taxi and hitchhike back home to Lancashire.
CCTV footage released by police shows Riley, a former Lancashire Police officer, trying to cover his tracks by withdrawing £250 from two cash machines and disposing of his phone.
Ms Moxham was taken to hospital and placed in an induced coma.
Riley was arrested at around 4.09am in West Yorkshire the following morning.
He told police he’d “lost his temper” after finding out Ms Moxham wanted to pursue another relationship and claimed to have applied only “momentary pressure” to her neck.
Medical experts say she suffered a period of “profound cerebral hypoxia” lasting more than two minutes and suffered a “hypoxic brain injury”.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
She has since suffered from poor concentration, memory loss, frequent headaches and psychological problems, including anxiety.
Due to the injury, she was not able to recall the events in the hotel room.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Moxham said Riley was coercive and manipulative and the attack had impacted her studies.
She added: “What has arguably been the most difficult part of this whole episode is the lack of remorse, empathy or guilt shown by James Riley.”
Riley, then a serving police officer, pleaded guilty to attempted murder at an earlier hearing in November 2022 and the court heard he “accepted” causing Ms Moxham harm and regretted his actions.
Jailing Riley for 16 years on Friday, judge Patrick Field said the ex-cop “became consumed by uncontrollable anger and a jealous rage”.
He added: “You attacked her with murderous intent.”
Riley was dismissed by Lancashire Police in January.
Deputy Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett said: “It is utterly abhorrent that a police officer should act in this way.”