Controlling bully jailed after paralysing woman in violent assault

A man has been given a 20-year sentence after assaulting his partner so seriously she has been left paralysed.

57-year-old Robert Easom’s abuse was not just limited to that assault. It was the culmination of years of controlling, coercive and violent behaviour towards Trudi Burgess.

In a victim impact statement to the court, Trudi wrote: “This crime has taken away everything I built, planned for and enjoyed. It has robbed me of my health, my independence, my ability to care for my family, my career, my freedom and my peace of mind. Each day is a physical, emotional and mental battle.

‘’This injury is permanent. I will never get back the life I had. I now live with constant pain, with limitations and heartbreak. My children and granddaughter have lost the mother and grandmother they once had. And I am left learning to live a life I didn’t choose – and would not wish on anyone. This isn’t just a physical injury, it is the destruction of a life.

‘’And the pain doesn’t stop with me – the ripples of pain are felt by everyone who loves me and cares for me. I want the court to consider not just the brutality of the attack but the ongoing permanent consequences I now face – every minute of every day – for the rest of my life.

“I also want the court to be aware of my real concern for anyone getting involved with Robert in the future…. romantically or otherwise. He has a true Jekyll and Hyde personality. He could be a loving and attentive partner and then he could switch in a moment into a truly terrifying monster, restraining me, dragging me round the room, screaming threats at me.

‘’All of which were dismissed moments later. I am living proof of the devastating effects of his uncontrolled bursts of anger.”

Trudi’s daughter wrote: “The events of February have changed my life and my family forever. What happened to my mum has caused deep and lasting trauma, not just to her, but to me and my children. The effects of this do not stop - they are with us every day.

“My mum has always been my safe place. When I received the call to say that she had been seriously injured, I went into shock. I knew there was a chance we might lose her, and from that moment life has never been the same again.”

She continued: “Emotionally, it feels like something evil has touched my life, and I do not know how to make sense of that. My sense of safety and trust has been affected. I continue to experience sudden, panicked realisations about the reality of what has happened and the long-term impact it will have on our lives. I fear the emotional impact of the many “firsts” we still have ahead as a family.

“One of the hardest parts is seeing other families living normal lives with their parents, able bodied grandparents enjoying time with their grandchildren, families meeting for play dates. I try not to feel resentment, but it is a constant source of sadness and grief and a reminder of what has been taken from us.”

Trudi’s son wrote: “What was done to my mother has had consequences that extend far beyond the immediate injuries she suffered. It has dismantled her independence, her role within our family, and the future we all assumed she would have. In doing so, it has also dismantled our lives around her.”

“He continued: “What was done to my mother did not only injure her. It has imposed a permanent harm on everyone around her. It has removed stability, security, and any sense of a predictable future. It has forced us all into lives we did not choose and cannot leave.

“This is not something that ends. This is something we will carry for the rest of our lives.”

Over the course of eight years, Easom subjected the woman he claimed to love to a relentless campaign of coercive and controlling behaviour, regularly verbally abusing her and, at times, physically assaulting her

Throughout the relationship, Trudi documented the abuse in the notes section of her phone. In addition to the serious physical assaults, she described what she called “low-level events” that became normalised - living in a cycle where Easom would be verbally or physically abusive, then apologetic and affectionate.

Examples included forcing her to clean up spilled food, pushing her against furniture, shouting at her, driving dangerously to frighten her, and headbutting her.

Around seven months into the relationship, during a trip to York, Easom “switched” into a rage, dragged her around a bathroom, and threatened her, quoting a line from Rambo: “Don’t push or I’ll give you a war.” When Trudi tried to leave Easom, he begged her to stay and acted remorseful.

In another incident in 2019, Easom violently grabbed Trudi’s wine, slammed a fridge door, and shouted before dragging her upstairs by the head, banging her against each step.

In 2021, again in York, he placed a sheet over Trudi’s head and strangled her, leaving her terrified for her life. The next day, he dismissed the attack, claiming he was “just trying to teach her a lesson”.

Despite knowing she needed to leave Easom, Trudi became trapped in a cycle of abuse. Whenever she tried to leave, Easom would belittle her, saying she was “useless” and couldn’t cope without him. Over time, her self-esteem was eroded, leaving her confused and broken down, though she continued to record notes as a way to make sense of what was happening.

Everything came to a horrific climax on 17th February 2025, when the victim told Easom she was leaving. His refusal to accept this led to a brutal assault that severed her spinal cord, leaving her paralysed and requiring specialist care ever since.

When Easom called for an ambulance, he claimed that Trudi had had “an accident” and “fallen out of bed”.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court in November last year, Easom, now of no fixed address but formerly of Longridge Road, Chipping, was found guilty of Section 18 Assault.

He had previously admitted to engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour between July 2017 and February 2025, as well as two offences of actual bodily harm.

He was given a 20-year sentence consisting of a 16-year custodial term and four-year extended licence period.

DC Bethanie Kirk, from the Burnley Vulnerable Adults Team, said: “Robert Easom is a manipulative, controlling and cowardly individual with a warped sense of entitlement and repulsive views towards women. His reckless and repulsive actions could have very easily led to Trudi’s death.

“I welcome the sentence handed down to him, which reflects the very real danger he poses to women due to his violent and abhorrent behaviour.

“In complete contrast, and as demonstrated in the incredibly moving victim impact statements heard in court, Trudi is a kind, gentle, caring, family-orientated woman. It is clear that Easom’s repulsive actions have had a profound and long-term impact on Trudi and her family as a whole, and he has never shown any remorse for that.

“I hope that Trudi’s story will encourage others who find themselves in an abusive relationship to make contact with the police, knowing that they will be believed and listened to, and that we will do everything in our powers to remand their abuser into custody and put them before the courts.

“Finally, if you suspect someone you know may be in an abusive relationship, or you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, I would ask that you trust your instincts and report it to the police. By doing so, you could be saving someone from serious or fatal harm.”