Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
A man who threatened to throw his former partner down a well on his country estate has been found guilty of attempted murder.
The trial held at Norwich Crown Court heard Douglas Clifton Brown, aged 56, of Grimston Road, Congham, Norfolk, had denied trying to kill the woman on 11 August 2023, but the jury found him guilty on Thursday 16 January 2025.
He had previously admitted GBH with intent and making threats to kill.
The trial was told that the victim had been out with friends when Clifton Brown turned up and they left together in his car.
They argued and he punched her a number of times saying he was going to throw her down the well and then kill himself.
When they stopped near the well in a remote wooded part of the estate he tried to drag her out the passenger side of the car.
She fought back, pulled her scarf tight round his neck and eventually he stopped.
Shaken, she attempted to drive them both to hospital but he said he didn’t want to go and would jump from the moving car.
She then let him out, driving herself to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn where she shouted for help and caught the attention of a porter.
He called the police saying a woman had been “beaten black and blue” by her partner. Such were her injuries he initially thought she had been in a car accident.
She had suffered a broken finger, fractured eye socket, and a broken nose.
Clifton Brown was arrested at his home at 2.10am.
He claimed it was she who had attacked him and that he only hit her in self defence.
The forensic evidence told a different story.
Det con Gary Ranger said: “This has been an extremely traumatic time for the victim and I hope today’s conviction will help her as she continues to process what happened to her.
“This was a sustained and terrifying attack during which the victim fought for her life.
"Had she not been able to subdue him using her scarf she is certain she would not be here today.
“Clifton Brown tried to blame her for the assault and tried to vacate his guilty plea to the GBH and the threats to kill.
"He used extreme violence against his victim and is now rightly behind bars for it.
“We are committed to protecting women and girls and would encourage anyone who is a victim to come forward and please report it.”
He will be sentenced on 13 March 2025 at Norwich Crown Court.