Man followed ex-wife before 'chilling' slash attack

A man who admitted an attack in which his ex-wife was slashed with a blade has denied attempted murder.

Rhiannon Creak was discovered with serious wounds to her neck, breast and torso, on a riding track at Hardwick, near Long Stratton, Norfolk, on 6 July last year. Her injuries left her requiring a blood transfusion and surgery.

Norwich Crown Court heard Jonathan Creak, 50, had followed her as she went to muck out a friend's horse.

Mr Creak, 50, of Oxfordshire, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public place. His trial is expected to last two weeks.

Mr Creak denies charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.

He admits grievous bodily harm - and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

In her opening speech, Claire Matthews, prosecuting, said Mr Creak had driven from Oxfordshire to Norfolk on the day of the attack, but Ms Creak became aware she was being followed.

The court heard Mr Creak pulled over in front of her car and confronted her, accusing her of having "taken everything from him", before producing a Stanley knife from his pocket.

"He was telling her he had nothing left to lose," Ms Matthews added.

"Her instinct was to run," she said, but what happened next was "a chilling and vicious attack".

The court was told Mr Creak "slashed her back, her neck, her leg and her breast" as she "shouted and screamed at him to stop, for her life", as she heard him shouting that she needed to die.

The prosecution said that on his return to Oxfordshire, Mr Creak called his partner Sophie Carter, who contacted police when he told her he had killed his ex-wife.

Ms Matthews said: "That was his belief at the time and the prosecution say that is important."

Mr Creak was pulled over near St Neots, Cambridgeshire, and found with blood on his hands. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

In a police interview, Ms Matthews said, he revealed the couple had been married for 10 years and parted in 2018, but not divorcing until 2022 owing to a financial dispute.

The prosecution added that during the interview, Mr Creak said: "I decided to confront Rhiannon face to face. I drove up to Norfolk to confront her.

"She treated me with contempt. This enraged me and I accept I took a knife which was in my pocket and used it to assault her."

He said he had not intended to use the knife or cause her injury, but "as a threat to make her focus and answer me. I wanted to hurt her but not seriously".

The court heard he was shocked to be arrested for attempted murder.

Ms Matthews said the jury had to decide whether Mr Creak had intended to murder his ex-wife, or intended to cause grievous bodily harm.

"Mr Creak intended to kill Rhiannon that morning," she told the jury.

"We say that his actions coupled with his words, demonstrate that was his intent.

"That was what he told his partner; that is what he told a police officer on the phone."

The trial continues.

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