Both the PSNI and Police Ombudsman have blanked calls for an apology for failing a woman who reported Jonathan Creswell after he exposed himself and threatened her and her partner
Last week, after 10 years, failed investigations by PSNI and initially the Ombudsman, the victim was finally vindicated.
Sarah and Ian (not their real names), endured years of failure by authorities on top of their experiences with Creswell who went on to murder Katie Simpson in a jealous rage then staged a scene to make it appear she had taken her own life,
He had already served a prison sentence in 2010 after a campaign of brutal abuse against his previous partner Abi Lyle.
Sarah and Ian had been working in an Antrim stableyard in 2016 where Creswell was a well-established fixture
They found him loud, brash and uncouth, but very much the central attraction.
Creswell boasted to Sarah of being in prison for beating Abi saying his only mistake was “not finishing the bitch off.”
Sarah knew nothing of Abi nor the court case but some details she later told police were never in public domain and could only have come from Creswell.
A few weeks later “he called my name and when I turned, he was fully exposed, naked from the waist down and gyrating.”
Sarah told Ian and the stable owner, the latter of whom wasn’t remotely interested.
But Ian challenged Creswell, audio recording the exchange on his phone.
“He was irate, threatening to snap Ian’s neck and break his back and said I’d get what was coming,” said Sarah
Staff sided with Creswell leaving Sarah and Ian isolated, so they left and contacted police handing over the phone recording.
When Creswell found out police were investigating he fled over the Border but travelled North almost daily.
Sarah was informed the case was closed as police couldn’t locate him but as it transpired, they had multiple opportunities.
No contact was made with Gardai counterparts, something PSNI tried very hard to avoid admitting through a Freedom of Information request, instead contending it would take too much time and cost to answer.
In addition, despite insistence of being unaware of Creswell’s violence convictions when Katie died on August 9 2020, the Police National Computer (PNC) was checked by a Detective Chief Inspector five days later, which held the full extent of his criminal history including Sarah’s report.
This meant Creswell could have been arrested at any point for that immediately the PNC was checked, exactly as he should have been for Katie’s murder.
While Sarah prepared a complaint to the Ombudsman in 2021, she held back until Creswell’s trial, which abruptly ended when he took his own life in April 2024.
Left without the possibility of justice, Sarah submitted the Ombudsman complaint.
A reply in August 2024 concluded: “Based on all the available material, no police misconduct has been identified and therefore there is insufficient evidence to substantiate this allegation … The matter was openly and actively investigated for over a year before closure.”
Frustrated Sarah queried, “What did it take to get someone to listen? Why was it so hard to get concerns across, not just for myself but the catastrophic outcome for Katie?”
However, Sarah re-submitted her complaint and significant evidence was supplied, disproving both PSNI and Ombudsman positions.
The latest report is the complete opposite of the previous one.
Sarah remains disturbed by PSNI failings and described the original Ombudsman investigation as “grossly lacking”
Both were asked if they wished to apologise to Sarah.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “The actions of the officers involved did not meet the expectations of the PSNI or the victim. We are committed to providing a victim-centred approach, and to learn from cases where our investigative processes have fallen short.”
It was pointed out acceptance of wrongdoing does not absolve the need for apology, but there was no further response.
Meanwhile, an Ombudsman spokesperson acknowledged the impact on victims: “In all our interactions with them. In this case we recognised the need for further investigation after receiving additional information from the complainant.”
This too stopped well short of an apology and in response to this, the Ombudsman said Sarah could submit a complaint for consideration.
When shown both responses Sarah said: “I’m not surprised at all. There remains a complete lack of accountability. The fact I’m supposed to submit a third complaint to the Ombudsman, this time about their conduct is appalling. Once again victims come very low on priority lists. There is a constant requirement to chase answers. No victim should be forced to go to these extensive and protracted lengths to hold public authorities to account.”
