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The former boss of the Dreamboys strippers has been found guilty of attempted murder after bludgeoning his ex with an axe after seeing TOWIE star Kirk Norcross giving her a ‘goodnight kiss’.
Alex Alam, a former model, made a desperate Facetime call to the TOWIE star begging him to come and rescue her children as she feared for her life during the attack this April, which left her needing more than 100 stitches for ‘life-changing’ injuries.
David Richards, 41, who established the Dreamboys before selling the business for £1 million in 2019, had been in a nine-year relationship with Ms Alam and built a luxurious house complete with stables for them to share, placing the house in both of their names.
But ex-boxer Richards was abusive towards Ms Alam throughout the relationship, and she had repeatedly reported him to police for alleged coercive control before throwing him out of the house, The Sun reports.
She then succeeded in getting a non-molestation order against him after making a claim of assault against him.
After being questioned by police Richards waited outside the house for five hours, before seeing 34-year-old Kirk leave the property, giving Ms Alam a ‘kiss goodnight’ as he went.
Shortly afterwards he attacked Ms Alam, hitting her over the head repeatedly with an axe while shouting the name of the TOWIE star.
He then attempted to strangle the former model and continued hitting at her with the axe.
Alex Alam, a former model, was attacked by Richards late at night in April with an axe
Ms Alam was left with ‘life-changing’ injuries that required her to spend days in hospital and needed 100 stitches
David Richards attacked his ex-girlfriend with an axe and attempted to strangle her, before tying her up with cable ties in April
She said: ‘Every time I was screaming or begging he was getting more angry. I realised I was going to get hacked to pieces. I knew he was going to do me, and then he was going to do the kids.’
Richards tied up Ms Alam using cable ties and is said to have dragged her around by her hair.
She managed to make up a story about why she had been with Mr Norcross and said she had evidence on her phone, the court heard.
While Richards left her tied up to hunt for the phone, Ms Alam grabbed a kitchen knife and managed to lock him out, before hiding in a bedroom in the house where she called police and then Mr Norcross.
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He told the court that when Ms Alam phoned him: ‘She was covered in blood. I had never seen anything like it.
‘It was like I was seeing a horror movie. She said, “Kirk come back, I am dying. He has killed me”.’
Ms Alam then begged Mr Norcross to come and save her children.
She was in hospital for several days after the attack and needed more than 100 stitches.
Richards attacked his ex violently after seeing her share a goodnight kiss with Kirk Norcross (pictured)
Chelmsford Crown Court heard from the prosecution that Richards fled the scene and drove at speeds of more than 90mph before being stopped and arrested by police.
Prosecutor William Carter told the court Richards was ‘a man who intended to kill.’
Richards denied attempted murder and said he had never had an axe. But a jury took just four hours to convict him this week after the week-long trial.
He had already admitted breaching the non-molestation order.
The investigating officer for the case, DC Jenny Clarke of Chelmsford’s Domestic Abuse Investigation Team, said: ‘Everyone who has worked on this case has collected every scrap of evidence and testimony we could to convince the jury of Richards intent that night.
‘He waited behind the woman’s house armed with a dangerous weapon, dressed in waterproof clothing and chose to attack her in the middle of the night when she was most vulnerable.
‘He didn’t even care that young children were alone inside the house and could have found their mum the next morning.
‘People like Richards are a danger to our communities and we will do everything we can to stop them.
‘The woman has been left feeling unsafe on her own up until this guilty verdict and should be commended for her bravery not only after the incident but throughout the investigation and giving vital evidence at court.
‘We would also like to commend the support network of friends and family she had behind her throughout this incredibly difficult time.’
Richards is to be sentenced in December.
