Romance conman knifed ex and left her to die in field
A CONVICTED rapist who pretended to be an airline pilot stabbed his girlfriend and left her to die in a field after she dumped him over his lies, a court heard.
Christopher Crichton, 33, duped Clare Wright, 29, with his tall tales of having a high-flying career after they met and started dating early last year.
But in reality he had mental health issues and a “shocking” history of convictions for violence and sexual offences against women including rape.
Norwich Crown Court heard how Ms Wright began to suspect he was lying and ended their relationship early in the morning of April 26 this year.
She left him alone in her house, but returned over fears that he might harm her labrador dog.
Bleeding
Crichton punched her repeatedly before she ran to try to flag down passing motorists outside her semi-detached home in the Norfolk village of Kirby Cane near Bungay, Suffolk.
But he followed and stabbed her multiple times, leaving her with life-threatening wounds.
He was seen dragging her “kicking and screaming” into a car at 8.40am and drove around for more than two hours as she pleaded to be taken to hospital.
Crichton finally pulled over and dragged her into a field where he dumped her in Nacton near Ipswich, Suffolk.
He told Ms Wright she was “bleeding out” and drove away, leaving her to die around 300 yards from the nearest house. She was saved by a passing cyclist who went to her aid at 11.20am, three hours after she was stabbed.
Ms Wright was flown by air ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, where she was treated for two weeks. Crichton of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, was arrested at 12.20pm at a retail park in Ipswich.
Judge Anthony Bate sentenced him to life with a minimum term of 15 years after he admitted attempted murder and kidnap.
He told Crichton: “The victim’s
trust in you was utterly betrayed. You deceived her from the outset of your relationship.”
Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, described Crichton as a “practised, accomplished conman”.
Ms Wright did not want her victim impact statement read out in court, but Mr Jackson said she had suffered “serious physical and psychological harm”.
Detective Inspector Tom Smith of Norfolk Police praised her “outstanding strength and resilience” after Friday’s hearing.
He said: “She has been incredibly brave and I hope today’s result will help her move forward from an incredibly traumatic ordeal.”