Police officer tried to murder his girlfriend in Premier Inn when she decided to leave him

Former police officer James Riley attempted to murder his girlfriend after a failed attempt at rekindling the relationship, leaving her in an induced coma following the horror attack

James Riley will be sentenced next week after leaving his ex-girlfriend for dead in a hotel room(Greater Manchester Police / SWNS)

A police officer who attempted to murder his girlfriend in a hotel room when she decided to leave him has been jailed for his crimes.

James Riley strangled the woman at a Premier Inn for around two minutes before leaving her for dead in the hotel room the pair were sharing after flying into a jealous rage. She had hoped to end the relationship with the Lancashire Police officer, whose “aggression and jealousy” marred their years together.

Manchester Crown Court has since heard the victim was convinced by Riley, 28, to attend a gig at the Apollo in Manchester, where the pair stayed the night after drinks and food earlier in the day. The cop had hoped the trip would rekindle their relationship but she dropped a bombshell on the police officer who was soon blinded with rage.

Riley arrived at his parents home at 3.45am, with his mother calling the police on him

She told the officer she had no intent of reconciling with him, sharing texts with Riley which were between her and her new man, who she said she loved and wanted to be with. Riley then launched into an attack in the hotel room at around 11pm on November 10, 2022. Judge Patrick Field KC said: “You became consumed by uncontrollable anger and a jealous rage, and you attacked her with murderous intent.”

After strangling her for two minutes, Riley placed a plastic bag over her head because he “could not stand to look at her”, before ringing 999 at 11.15pm, and then his parents to “say goodbye”. He told his father: “I’ve killed [victim’s name] and I’m going to kill myself. I just wanted to say goodbye.” His mother called the police after Riley said he had “strangled” her, MEN reported.

An ambulance was called by Riley just 12 minutes after the attack, with the victim taken Manchester Royal Hospital where she was unresponsive and placed into an induced coma. Riley then took a taxi to Bradford where he arrived at his parents’ home at 3.45am, at which point his father locked the door and his mother alerted police to his presence.

She was left with continued after-effects of a serious brain injury, leaving her with memory loss and debilitating, frequent headaches. Speaking in court, she said: “He was also a police officer, so you carry a certain level of trust that they will not cause you harm.

His movements from Manchester to Bradford were tracked on CCTV cameras around the cities(Greater Manchester Police / SWNS)

“I became a former shell of my former self. At times he made me feel so low and unconfident, I perversely felt I deserved to be treated that way.” Defending, David James says Riley knows he has “let down everyone in his life” and has a “tough existence” in prison given his former role as a police officer. Riley, through James, aired his wish to apologise to her and her family. He has already been sacked by Lancashire Police and will serve two thirds of his sentence behind bars.

Riley, from Preston, eventually pleaded guilty to attempted murder and has now been jailed for 16 years. Nicky Moore, a Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “James Riley violently attacked the victim in a jealous rage, causing lasting physical and psychological damage. Although he claimed he instantly regretted what he had done, instead of staying to face the consequences of his actions, he attempted to evade arrest by fleeing to another part of the country.

“Despite the victim being unable to recall what happened to her because of memory loss caused by her injuries, the CPS and Greater Manchester Police worked closely together to build a strong case including CCTV footage and expert medical and forensic evidence. The strength of the evidence meant Riley had no option but to accept his guilt. I can only hope the victim in this case will be able to move forward knowing Riley will be spending a significant amount of time behind bars for his actions.”