A woman managed to capture the terrifying incident on her doorbell camera when her former partner attacked her as she was leaving for work. Rosie Niessen, 28, who worked as a prison officer, was ambushed by her ex-partner, Simon Scrimshaw, 50, who slashed her throat with a Stanley knife and inflicted severe injuries on her face, neck, and hands. Rosie’s father, Roberto Niessen, 55, a doorman, intervened upon hearing her cries, but not before sustaining a deep wound to his leg.
In January 2024, Scrimshaw was convicted of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm and received a 28-year prison sentence from Nottingham Crown Court.
Recalling the horrific ordeal, Rosie, now residing in Hucknall and unemployed, described how Scrimshaw waited for her in the bushes for 40 minutes before attacking her unexpectedly. She emphasized the shocking nature of the attack and how she was overpowered and brought to the ground by him.
The couple’s tumultuous relationship began in 2017 when Rosie, then 21, met Scrimshaw while purchasing wire from him at a scrapyard where he was employed. Despite the age gap, she was initially charmed by him and described him as a womanizer. Their relationship led to the birth of their daughter, now seven years old, but faced numerous ups and downs, resulting in Rosie ending the relationship in late 2022.
On the day of the attack, scheduled to appear in family court two days later for a restraining order application, Scrimshaw, donning a balaclava, waited in the bushes for Rosie to leave for work, where he launched the violent assault at the end of her driveway.
Rosie’s father’s intervention during the attack resulted in him also getting injured while defending his daughter. Following the incident, Rosie expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal and emphasized the instinctual response of protecting herself during the assault.
Despite Scrimshaw’s not guilty plea, a trial lasting two weeks found him guilty of attempted murder and causing severe bodily harm with intent. Rosie labeled him a “monster” and highlighted the incriminating evidence captured on CCTV.
Scrimshaw received a 28-year prison term with an additional four-year extension for dangerousness, prompting a shocked reaction from Rosie. A lifelong restraining order was issued by the judge to prevent Scrimshaw from contacting Rosie.
Since the attack, Rosie has been grappling with the physical and emotional scars, preventing her from returning to work. She voiced her struggle with societal acceptance of such violence and her determination not to succumb to despair.
Sharing her story, Rosie aims to empower other victims of domestic violence and assaults, urging them to remain resilient and emphasizing that true love should never result in harm.
