Olympic rider Abi Lyle says trainer who later killed showjumper repeatedly assaulted her

Olympic dressage rider Abi Lyle has told investigators and journalists she was repeatedly assaulted during a nine-month relationship with horse trainer Jonathan Creswell, the man later convicted in connection with the rape and killing of 21-year-old showjumper Katie Simpson.

Creswell, a former jockey, fatally strangled Simpson in August 2020; she died in hospital six days after the attack. Creswell died by suicide in April 2024 after the first day of his murder trial. The case later led to convictions of three women who prosecutors said had helped conceal the attack and cleaned blood from his property.

Lyle, 40, recounted the assaults in an interview published to coincide with Sky’s documentary Death of a Showjumper. She described episodes of prolonged choking, having her head slammed into a car dashboard and threats to place her in a bath of bleach while she was in a relationship with Creswell. She said he had warned her about his violent streak early in their relationship but that she had dismissed it as bravado.

Lyle said Creswell also mistreated horses and that his abusive behaviour toward animals was visible to people in the local equestrian community. She told The Telegraph and the documentary makers that some women close to Creswell became protective of him and accepted his explanations for injuries, at times supporting his claim that marks on Simpson’s body were the result of a riding accident.

According to Lyle, early police inquiries did not flag a 2010 conviction in which Creswell pleaded guilty to assaulting her; he served three months of a six-month sentence. She said she had largely stopped speaking about the incident after moving to England and that few people had heeded her warnings at the time. She added that some locals even celebrated Creswell’s release from prison.

Simpson had been sharing a rural Northern Ireland home with her older sister Christina, who was Creswell’s partner and the mother of his two children. Prosecutors at later hearings said Creswell was at Simpson’s hospital bedside after the attack. Three women were subsequently convicted of offences connected to attempts to conceal the circumstances of Simpson’s death.

Lyle described the local riding community as "close-knit and patriarchal," and said that Creswell’s charm and reputation as a talented rider shielded him from scrutiny. "He was a talented guy, well-respected and funny," she told interviewers, adding she felt his treatment of horses limited how far he advanced in the sport. Several people have alleged he struck or underfed horses; Lyle said she had witnessed mistreatment herself.

In the documentary, Lyle recalled that many of the violent episodes from her relationship were difficult to discuss and that members of her family were unaware of the full extent of what she said she endured. She said participating in the programme had been hard but ultimately beneficial, and that speaking out might help others recognise that abuse can happen to confident, independent people.

Lyle also praised one woman, Jill Robinson, who had been Creswell’s girlfriend before Lyle and was later convicted of covering up the attack on Simpson, for speaking on camera. Robinson and two other women were among those convicted in the wider legal proceedings after Simpson’s death.

Since leaving the relationship with Creswell, Lyle said she has rebuilt her life and career. She was part of Team Ireland at the Paris Olympics last summer and said she has been in a stable, positive relationship for three years. She described the experience as having taught her resilience and perspective.

The documentary and Lyle’s interview come amid renewed scrutiny of how insular communities and reputations can affect investigations into domestic abuse and the treatment of victims. Authorities and advocates say such dynamics can delay or complicate responses to allegations of violence.

Anyone affected by the issues discussed can seek support. For confidential help in the United Kingdom and Ireland, callers can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org for details.