Groomed: Coercion, Control and a Cold-blooded Murder

The horrifying story of Jonathan Cresswell and the rape and murder of 21 year old showjumper Katie Simpson, who was initially thought to have taken her own life until Cresswell's crime was uncovered Jonathan Cresswell was a dangerous and violent man, particularly to women. He manipulated his many girlfriends using coercive control and physically assaulted them if they didn't do as he wished. In August 2020 he raped and murdered showjumper Katie Simpson, the sister of his partner and the aunt of his two children. He attempted to cover up the murder and pretended he had found her hanging from the landing in their shared home, and he very nearly got away with it. Only the persistence of an investigative journalist, suspicious nurses and Katie's concerned family and friends caused the PSNI to open a case almost five months after her death. During the resulting trial Cresswell killed himself. Three other women were charged with helping him to conceal his crime, and each received a suspended sentence due their deference of being under Cresswell's control.