Katie Simpson: Three woman who covered for Jonathan Creswell sentenced

Three women who admitted their roles in covering for Jonathan Creswell walked free from court on Friday.

Creswell, 36, previously of Briar Hill Gardens, Greysteel was charged with murdering talented showjumper Katie Simpson on August 3, 2020 and raping her at some time beforehand.

It was contended he attacked Katie - the younger sister of his partner Christina ‘Nina’ Simpson - in a jealous rage then staged a scene to make it appear she had attempted to take her own life. His trial got underway on April 23, but ended 24 hours later after he was found dead.

While four women, all associated with Creswell through the equestrian industry, were reported by PSNI for prosecution, a decision was taken to proceed against three. The PPS has consistently refused to disclose why the fourth woman was not prosecuted insisting only Katie’s next-of-kin are permitted to seek a review of that decision, which they have not done. The remaining three have pleaded guilty to a range of offences.

Hayley Robb, 30, from Weavers Meadow, Banbridge, had previously admitted to withholding information and to perverting the course of justice by washing Creswell’s clothes and by cleaning blood in his home.

Jill Robinson, 42, from Blackfort Road, Omagh had admitted to perverting the course of justice by washing Creswell’s clothes. Rose de Montmorency-Wright, 23, of Craigantlet Road, Newtownards admitted to withholding information while knowing of Creswell’s alleged assault on Katie.

Prosecution counsel Sam Magee KC accepted the women did not know Creswell had murdered Katie rather their actions were to cover up the assault.

He said: “They ascribed to and were complicit in his conspiracy of silence around critical facts, engaging in acts which misled those trying to uncover the truth.”

Katie sustained injuries all over her body including defensive wounds on her arms and hands, “tramline” bruising potentially inflicted with a rod-type implement, and “grip marks” on her thigh “indicative” of violent sexual assault.

While Katie was being assessed in hospital, Hayley, Christina and Jill were with Creswell who broke down stating: “Youse think I did this.”

Creswell divulged that he’d beaten Katie and intended to explain her significant injuries occurred from being trampled. On Creswell’s instruction, Hayley took his clothes, later meeting up with Jill, before they drove to an external launderette and washed them. Jill returned the clothing to Creswell’s mother’s house that day and instructed Hayley not to tell anyone.

She accepted being in a continuous relationship with Creswell for 10 years - overlapping with Christina - which continued up to his arrest, however this was marked with abusive, controlling behaviour including physical attacks and continuously demanding to know her movements and checking her phone.

Hayley’s fear of Creswell worsened after she provided information to police. She volunteered significant evidence and turned ‘King’s Evidence’, becoming a prosecution witness.

Meanwhile, Jill confirmed she and Creswell were in a relationship years ago and remained friends. She denied being controlled by or afraid of him, nor did he ever assault her although her defence disputed this.

The defence contended Rose acted out of, “False, fake and misconceived loyalties, against a background of control”.

He disputed her lack of cooperation “derailed the investigation”, but accepted it was hindered. Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that Katie was, “Cruelly deprived of the bright future she undoubtedly had”.

The basis of plea in respect of the women was, “They acted on Creswell’s lie”.

The judge said: “It somewhat unusual to deal with someone who is not before the court but I have found it almost impossible to set out the sentencing without considering Jonathan Creswell.”

He paid tribute to “courageous” Abigail Lyle, Creswell’s former partner who came forward to assist in Katie’s case and her evidence, saying it “Paints the most compelling picture of subjecting her to coercive control, numerous physical assaults and strangulation. The foreshadowing of the death of Katie is chilling”.

Referring to the evidence of Katie’s best friend from the age of four, Chloe Scott, who was one of the first to raise concerns over the purported suicide, Judge Rafferty said, “She set out how Creswell effectively groomed and dominated Katie from around the age of 10, which continued through her teens”.

He continued: “Many witnessed Creswell’s verbally abusive and frankly vile comments to Katie, usually in a context of sexualised language. Creswell was a skilled and predatory abuser who simply viewed women to be used and abused for his own ends.”

The judge said the offending was serious and crossed the custody threshold and in relation to Hayley imposed a sentence of two years.

Turning to Jill, he imposed a sentence of 16 months with Rose receiving eight months.

Following consideration however Judge Rafferty decided the “using of them by Creswell was cynical and exploitive” and suspended all for two years.

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