Full Breakdown
Police Ombudsman Finds PSNI Investigation into 2016 Indecent-Exposure Allegation Inadequate
9/9/2026, 11:12:18 AM
Core Event
The Police Ombudsman concluded that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) mishandled a 2016 complaint that Jonathan Creswell, a show-jumping trainer, had exposed himself to a woman at a horse yard in Co Antrim. The Ombudsman described the investigation as “inadequate and failed the victim.”
Background & Context
Creswell, 36, was on trial in April 2024 for the murder and rape of 21-year-old Katie Simpson, who died in hospital after an August 2020 incident in Co Derry. He denied the charges and took his own life on the second day of the trial. The indecent-exposure complaint, lodged in January 2016, related to an October 2015 incident. A separate review of the Simpson case identified 37 potential victims, male and female, who reported abuse by Creswell.
Findings of the Police Ombudsman
The Ombudsman’s investigation highlighted several shortcomings: the first officer recorded only one statement over four months and failed to interview three witnesses, including a possible eyewitness; a second officer took no further statements and claimed his role was merely “monitoring.” Neither officer listened to a threatening voice message sent by Creswell. A file submitted to the Public Prosecution Service inaccurately portrayed Creswell as known only for motoring offences, omitting his prior violent offence conviction and claiming no outstanding evidence or witnesses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Indecent exposure is a serious crime and can indicate a potential for escalating sexual offending, so it is important that reports are robustly investigated,” — Nikki Davis — Nikki Davis, Director of Investigations, Police Ombudsman.
