Doorbell cam captures horror moment man pounces from bushes to slash ex's throat

A woman capturedthe horrifying moment her ex-partner slashed her throat on her doorbell camera, after he lay in wait for her in the bushes as she left for work.

Rosie Niessen, 28, was leaving for her job as a prison officer when her former partner, Simon Scrimshaw, then 50, attacked her from behind with a Stanley knife. Hebrutally cut her throat and hacked at her face, neck and hands as she desperately tried to fight him off. Fortunately, Rosie's father, Roberto Niessen, 55, a doorman, heard her screams and rushed to her aid, but not before suffering a deep cut to his leg.

Scrimshaw was found guilty of attempted murderand grievous bodily harm in January 2024 and was sentenced to 28 years in prison by Nottingham Crown Court.

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Rosie, who is now unemployed and living in Hucknall, said: "He hid in the bushes for 40 minutes. What kind of person does that? I could hear rustling. I was in shock. I went to turn around and he grabbed my head, pulled it back and sliced my neck.

"He took me down to the floor."

Rosie first met Scrimshaw in 2017 when she was just 21, when she bought wire from him at a scrapyard where he worked. The mum-of-one says she was "charmed" by him despite the age gap. Rosie said: "He was very charming. He was a womaniser. I thought he was the best thing since sliced bread."

Rosie fell pregnant two months later with their daughter, now seven, and Scrimshaw ended the relationship. But in July 2018 they rekindled their romance. The relationship was up and down and Rosie found the courage to leave Scrimshaw at the end of 2022. Rosie said: "I was happy co-parenting. He had in his head I was meeting other men. I was single - it didn't matter anyway."

The pair were both due to appear at the family court two days after the attack as Rosie had applied for a court order to keep him away from her. On March 14, 2023, Scrimshaw hid in the bushes in a balaclava for 40 minutes - waiting for Rosie to leave for work at 6.40am. And when she did he attacked her at the end of her drive.

Rosie's dad heard her screams and came running out - jumping on Scrimshaw's back but suffering a wound to his leg while trying to defend his daughter. Rosie said: "Life flashed before my eyes. It could have been different. Imagine if I did die or didn't defend myself as I did. I was protecting my neck - it was instinct."

A neighbour saw the attack and called the police and Scrimshaw was arrested. Rosie said: "They said I was in a pool of blood. They didn't know if I was going to make it."

Scrimshaw pleaded not guilty but a two-week trial found him guilty of attempted murder and of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Rosie said: "He's a monster. He was damned with CCTV evidence. You can't deny it."

Scrimshaw was given a 28 year sentence and a four-year extension for dangerousness. Rosie said: "That shocked me. I gasped."

The judge handed Scrimshaw a lifetime restraining order not to contact Rosie. Since the attack, Rosie has struggled with the scars she has been left with - both physically and mentally - and hasn't been able to return to work.

She said: "I had to leave my job. He's taken everything from me. I struggle that people think it's acceptable to do that to someone. I don't believe I'm beautiful. But I won't give up."

Rosie hopes sharing her story will help other victims of domestic violence or attacks. She said: "Stay strong. No one who loves you should lay a finger on you."