Latest news with #NorwichCrownCourt
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Major Jonathan Creak jailed for attempted murder of ex-wife
A former Army major who tried to kill his ex-wife by slashing her with a blade has been jailed for 25 Creak was discovered with serious wounds to her neck, breast and torso, at Hardwick, Norfolk, on 6 July last Creak, 51, of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public place and in April was found guilty of attempted Creak at Norwich Crown Court, Judge Katharine Moore said: "That behaviour is, frankly, terrifying." Creak was found guilty of attempted murder after the court heard he drove more than 100 miles (160km) from his home to attack Ms court had been told he had followed her as she went to muck out a friend's heard Creak, of Westland Way, produced a Stanley knife from his pocket and his victim said she heard him shouting that she needed to die. Claire Matthews, prosecuting, said Creak was "familiar with the weapon and its capabilities". She said "the violence was so carefully planned... and the long-lasting harm so great," that there was an ongoing risk to the public. In mitigation, defence lawyer Daniel Higgins said Creak had been in work clothes that he wore while renovating his house, and there was no judge acknowledged that Creak "served [his] country", had "put others before himself" and "does demonstrate remorse". "He is someone that is keen to rehabilitate," she she described him as "dangerous" and said he was "driven by anger and resentment".She said he continued "to pose a high threat to Rhiannon" and posed "a risk to members of the public, especially women". His sentence will include an additional four years on licence, alongside a lifetime restraining order. Ms Creak has called for more support for people who face "aggressive" told the BBC how Creak had laughed as he chased her and started "slashing" at her injuries included nerve damage, meaning she cannot fully use her right arm."I have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and horrible flashbacks and terrible nightmares, and I haven't really slept more than a few hours a day since," she was married to Creak for 10 years, and described their relationship as "confusing"."There were some very lovely moments, but also some really quite aggressive times," she couple split up in 2018, but did not divorce until 2022. Ms Creak said that during the relationship, Creak never physically attacked her, but would react angrily to "benign incidents.""Small actions would turn into quite aggressive moments. Everything just felt very disproportional," she said. Det Insp Duncan Woodhams said: "This has been a terrifying ordeal for Rhiannon and her family. It has had a profound impact on her physical and psychological wellbeing."Nothing will ever erase the experience for Rhiannon, but we hope that the sentence today ensures her perpetrator will have to serve some justice for his unthinkable actions." If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, details of help and support are available at BBC Action Line Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- BBC News
'Help people fleeing domestic violence', knife victim urges
A woman found fighting for her life in a country lane after her ex-husband tried to kill her has called for more support for people leaving violent Creak, 43, has suffered "horrible flashbacks and terrible nightmares" since being attacked by former Army major Jonathan Creak, who is waiting to be sentenced for attempted said more support was needed for those separating from abusive partners and added more information on obtaining protective court orders could be "very useful".The Ministry of Justice, which oversees the courts, has been contacted for comment. Creak, 50, was found guilty of attempted murder after Norwich Crown Court heard he drove more than 100 miles (160km) from his home in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, to attack his ex-wife in Hardwick, near Long Stratton, Norfolk, in July last is due to be sentenced on 25 Creak told the BBC how Creak had laughed as he chased her and started "slashing" at her was found fighting for her life on a country lane with serious injuries to her neck, breast and Creak also suffered nerve damage, meaning she cannot fully use her right arm."I have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and horrible flashbacks and terrible nightmares, and I haven't really slept more than few hours a day since," she said. 'Aggressive moments' She was married to Creak for 10 years, and described their relationship as "confusing"."There were some very lovely moments, but also some really quite aggressive times," she couple split up in 2018, but did not divorce until 2022. Ms Creak said that during the relationship, Creak never physically attacked her, but would react angrily to "benign incidents.""Small actions would turn into quite aggressive moments. Everything just felt very disproportional," she said. If you are affected by any of the issues in this story, details of help and support are available at BBC Action Line She urged anyone experiencing verbal or physical aggression in a relationship to reach out for help."I thought that if I tried harder, it might be different but the reality is that it might not get better - in fact, it could get significantly worse," she most people could go through a divorce process quite amicably, she said, more support was needed for those separating from abusive partners."People who could maybe talk you through the legal process and explain to you what you could do to best protect yourself and how you need to conduct yourself... would be very useful," said Ms Creak, who is from Norfolk. According to the Office for National Statistics, 12.6 million people in England and Wales - about 26% of the population - have experienced abusive behaviour from a partner or family member since the age of figures did not account for the number of incidents or harm are more often the target of repeated or more severe abuse, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 108 domestic homicide victims in the year to March 2024. Alessia Bianco, head of domestic abuse and sexual violence prevention at the charity Hestia, said leaving an abusive relationship was often a "particularly dangerous time" for survivors."Rhiannon's experience underscores that some abusers can continue to pose a threat long after separation," she said."[Creak's] actions reflect an ongoing need for power and control, which doesn't necessarily fade when someone leaves an abusive relationship."Ellie Butt, head of policy and public affairs at Refuge, which supports survivors of domestic abuse, said every two minutes someone looked to the charity for help."The period following separation from an abuser is frequently the most dangerous, carrying the highest risk of domestic homicide," she said. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Metro
17-06-2025
- Metro
Model who posted revenge porn photos of woman online spared jail
A woman has narrowly avoided prison after she posted revenge porn images on Instagram of another woman having sex. Louise Billman uploaded several explicit images of the woman in various sexual positions, alongside comments calling her a 'slag' and 'tramp'. Billman, 40, also added a lengthy statement alongside the pictures of the woman, calling her her 'homewrecker' and a 'stalkaway'. Magistrates sentenced Billman, a jewellery model, to 20 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months. Billman's sentencing, at Cambridge Magistrates Court, came after she was found guilty of disclosing private sexual images without consent at the same court following a trial in May. The court heard the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been 'stripped of her dignity' by the revenge porn and feared who else had seen the images. Prosecutor James Quelch said the incident, in June 2023, had 'affected the victim's day-to-day activities' and made her terrified of the consequences. The woman said in a victim impact statement: 'I felt like I had been stripped of my dignity, my anxiety has increased, I am constantly thinking that people who know me have seen the images. 'I am worried there will be repercussions for my family and child. In her posts, there were also images of my child. I am constantly worried about the images surfacing.' Rachel Buck, mitigating, said her client had good character and had been 'ostracised' by her family for supporting her partner, Joey Baptiste, during his own court ordeal. Baptiste, 41, was spared jail in 2021 after admitting a charge of coercive control against a former partner when Billman begged with the judge to spare him. Heavily pregnant with his twins at the time, she told Norwich Crown Court he had turned his life around and was attending AA meetings. Miss Buck added: 'It is quite rare for somebody of such good character to be before the court. More Trending 'She supported Baptiste through his trial. Some members of her family ostracised her for supporting her partner, apart from her mother. By June 2023, she had been cut off by lots of people and had no voice and no narrative.' Billman was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to her victim for the 'ongoing fear and trauma' she was suffering. There was also a £154 surcharge and a £650 contribution to court costs, reduced to £400 due to her 'financial situation'. Billman did not comment as she left the court. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man who tortured woman 'made her phone mum to say goodbye' during 10-hour ordeal MORE: Former Tory MP admits harassing ex-wife with messages and voice note MORE: Man murdered girlfriend, 21, decapitated her then pretended to be her
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sexual assault by friend left me feeling 'betrayed'
A woman who was sexually assaulted by a friend after a night out has described the devastating impact the attack had on her life. Bryony Piggin, 20, waived her right to anonymity and told the BBC she felt "betrayed" by her former best friend. She spoke out after Stefan Nikolic, 20, of Coast Road, Bacton, in Norfolk, was found guilty of assault by penetration. On Friday, Recorder Simon Levene sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for 24 months, and told him he had "misread" the situation. Describing her friendship with Nikolic before the attack, Ms Piggin said: "We were inseparable." The pair had been on a night out with friends in Norwich when the assault happened in April 2023. The court heard that she had agreed Nikolic could stay at her home in the city, but when she woke up, he was assaulting her. "It was incomprehensible that my best friend would do something like that to me," she said. Ms Piggin, who is now unable to work due to her mental health, said the assault left her with a sense of "confusion, betrayal and sadness". She said she could not believe her former friend "abused" the trust she gave him. The attack on 29 April 2023, has left Ms Piggin with anxiety issues and led to her dropping out of her Open University course. "I avoid leaving the house... Trauma makes it impossible to carry on." Nikolic denied assault by penetration, arguing he had consent, but a jury at Norwich Crown Court found him guilty on 31 March. Giles Fleming, for the prosecution, said that even two years on, Ms Piggin was still suffering. Reading from her victim impact statement, he said the "consequences were devastating" and that she was suffering with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). "He didn't just violate my body, he took the person I was. "Even now, two years on, I can still feel his touch," she said in her statement. The court heard how Ms Piggin still scrubs herself "raw in the shower" following the sexual assault. Recorder Levene said the pair had a "warm, affectionate relationship" before the incident. "You entirely misread the situation," he told Nikolic, adding "I do take into account your lack of maturity." Nikolic was also handed a five-year restraining order. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sexual assault by friend left me feeling 'betrayed'
A woman who was sexually assaulted by a friend after a night out has described the devastating impact the attack had on her life. Bryony Piggin, 20, waived her right to anonymity and told the BBC she felt "betrayed" by her former best friend. She spoke out after Stefan Nikolic, 20, of Coast Road, Bacton, in Norfolk, was found guilty of assault by penetration. On Friday, Recorder Simon Levene sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for 24 months, and told him he had "misread" the situation. Describing her friendship with Nikolic before the attack, Ms Piggin said: "We were inseparable." The pair had been on a night out with friends in Norwich when the assault happened in April 2023. The court heard that she had agreed Nikolic could stay at her home in the city, but when she woke up, he was assaulting her. "It was incomprehensible that my best friend would do something like that to me," she said. Ms Piggin, who is now unable to work due to her mental health, said the assault left her with a sense of "confusion, betrayal and sadness". She said she could not believe her former friend "abused" the trust she gave him. The attack on 29 April 2023, has left Ms Piggin with anxiety issues and led to her dropping out of her Open University course. "I avoid leaving the house... Trauma makes it impossible to carry on." Nikolic denied assault by penetration, arguing he had consent, but a jury at Norwich Crown Court found him guilty on 31 March. Giles Fleming, for the prosecution, said that even two years on, Ms Piggin was still suffering. Reading from her victim impact statement, he said the "consequences were devastating" and that she was suffering with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). "He didn't just violate my body, he took the person I was. "Even now, two years on, I can still feel his touch," she said in her statement. The court heard how Ms Piggin still scrubs herself "raw in the shower" following the sexual assault. Recorder Levene said the pair had a "warm, affectionate relationship" before the incident. "You entirely misread the situation," he told Nikolic, adding "I do take into account your lack of maturity." Nikolic was also handed a five-year restraining order. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
