Groomed: Coercion, Control and a Cold-blooded Murder

(Paperback)

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Description

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.

Reviews

'Groomed is a gripping read and a serious cautionary tale of how one man achieved a lifetime of abuse, coercion and control over multiple girls and young women with near impunity, with fatal consequences. A must-read to help prevent future failures to protect victims and survivors' -- Sarah Benson * Chief Executive, Womens Aid Ireland *
'Another triumph from Nicola Tallant, that shows a new side to her investigatory and writing skills. Katie Simpson was failed in life and death and this book captures all of that in a read that is gripping, but also full of empathy and understanding about the murder of the talented young showjumper' -- Allison Morris * Crime Correspondent for Belfast Telegraph *

Author Bio

Nicola Tallant is a three-time winner of Crime Journalist of the Year award in Ireland. In 2024, Cocaine Cowboys was shortlisted for the True Crime Awards for Outstanding Investigative Reporting. Nicola specialises in organised and gangland crime. She is the author of a number of books and works as the Crime and Investigations Editor at Sunday World. She has a weekly podcast Crime World and is also a regular contributor on The Stand with Eamon Dunphy