Man found guilty of ex-wife’s attempted murder in Hardwick

A former army officer who cut his ex-wife’s throat has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Jonathan Creak, 50, of Westland Way, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, denied attempting to murder Rhiannon and causing grievous bodily harm with intent but a jury of eight men and four women found him guilty yesterday at Norwich Crown Court.

Creak had previously admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

The jury was told how Creak had travelled from Oxford on July 5 last year before tracking Rhiannon down the following morning and stabbing her multiple times with a Stanley knife, including a 20cm cut to her neck.

The court heard that Creak, driving a white VW van, followed Rhiannon in her car for a period of time before blocking her car in on Mill Lane in Hardwick, Norfolk. Creak got out of the van and confronted her about a financial dispute following on from their divorce.

As Creak produced the knife, Rhiannon began to run as he ran after her, slashing her back with the knife multiple times, her throat more than once, her chest and her thigh, stating "You're going to die, you just need to die".

Ambulance and Police were called by a member of the public and ambulance were on scene where Rhiannon was left with multiple injuries and taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in a critical condition.

Creak left Rhiannon in the rura location and began heading back to Oxford, calling his partner to say he had killed his ex-wife and telling a police officer he had done so. Creak was stopped by Police in Bedfordshire and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Detective Inspector Duncan Woodhams said: "This was a horrific offence for which he has rightly been found guilty. Our thoughts remain with the victim and her family."

The trial heard that Creak told police he had been married to his ex-wife for ten years and divorced in 2022, however the financial issues were still ongoing. They had had no contact since 2019 until the incident. He also stated he had not intended to hurt Rhiannon but used the knife to get her to ‘focus’ on his questions.

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

Creak is due to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on 30 May.

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