James Riley: The shame attempted murder cop has brought on policing, and his ‘tough existence’ in jail

As a former police officer in prison, James Riley is experiencing a 'tough existence' behind bars. Officers who have disgraced themselves and their colleagues are hated by other lags.

He can have no complaints about his predicament. Riley’s cowardly, brutal attack on his ex-partner richly deserved the 16 year sentence imposed at Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

Unlike recent horrendous cases, where police officers directly used their position to murder or rape, Riley did not abuse his power as a officer as part of his crime. But even though he was off duty, his abhorrent conduct does not reduce the level of shame brought on policing.

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As his former girlfriend Ellie Moxham bravely said in court, before he was sentenced: "He was also a police officer, so you carry a level of trust that they will not cause you harm."

Riley, 28, is believed to have been a police constable, working in the southern districts of Lancashire police. Further details surrounding his career in the force were not revealed during his sentencing hearing.

But in court, his barrister was at pains to stress that Riley had not abused his position as an officer. He said Riley, 28, from Preston, had deliberately left his police warrant card at the scene of the crime, in a Manchester city centre Premier Inn hotel room, after he’d strangled Ms Moxham for about two minutes.

She had been persuaded to attend a concert at the Manchester Apollo, which had previously been booked by the pair. But by the time of the gig on November 10, 2022, by Norwegian pop star Sigrid, their relationship, characterised by Riley’s ‘jealousy and possessive behaviour’, had almost completely