Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Paralyzing Partner in Brutal Assault
A man who left his partner paralyzed after she told him she was leaving the relationship has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. Robert Easom, 57, was found guilty of wounding with intent following a trial at Preston Crown Court, where he also admitted to engaging in coercive and controlling behavior over an eight-year period.
Relentless Campaign of Abuse
Lancashire Police described Easom's actions as a relentless campaign of coercive and controlling behavior against his former partner, Trudi Burgess. This campaign included both physical assault and verbal abuse, creating a cycle of violence followed by apologetic and affectionate behavior that left Ms. Burgess trapped in the relationship.
When Ms. Burgess finally told Easom she was leaving on February 17, 2025, he launched what police called a brutal assault that severed her spinal cord and left her permanently paralyzed. The attack has left Ms. Burgess requiring specialist care for the rest of her life.
Documented Pattern of Violence
Ms. Burgess had documented Easom's abuse in the notes section of her phone, creating a record of the escalating violence. In one particularly disturbing incident from 2019, Easom dragged Ms. Burgess upstairs by her head, banging her against each step as he pulled her.
In 2021, the abuse escalated further when Easom placed a sheet over her head and strangled her, leaving her terrified for her life. The following day, he chillingly claimed he was just trying to teach her a lesson, according to police statements.
Court Sentencing and Victim Impact
Sentencing Easom at Preston Crown Court, Judge Robert Altham stated: No sentence I can pass upon you could begin to equal the harm that you have caused. The judge acknowledged that even with the lengthy sentence imposed, Easom would still have prospects for a future that he had denied his victim.
Judge Altham imposed an extended determinate sentence, noting that while a life sentence wasn't warranted in this case, the extended sentence was necessary to protect the public from Easom. The 16-year prison term will be followed by a four-year extended licence period.
Victim's Statement of Resilience
In a statement read by her brother Charlie outside court, Ms. Burgess expressed that the sentence reflects the seriousness of the harm done and the lasting impact of the abuse. While it can't change what I've been through, it sends an important message that this kind of violence will be taken seriously, she stated.
Ms. Burgess emphasized that this would not define the rest of her life, saying: From this point forward, I choose to look ahead with purpose, with strength, and the desire to make people aware of the signs of coercive, controlling behavior and abuse.
She acknowledged the life-changing nature of her injuries but concluded: The love I have in my life is far greater than any injury I have sustained or any pain I will endure.
Easom was convicted on multiple charges including wounding with intent, two charges of actual bodily harm, and engaging in coercive and controlling behavior between 2017 and 2025.
