Gardener faces life in jail after jury took less than 27 minutes to find him guilty of breaking neck of his partner and paralysing her
The children of a woman who was left a tetraplegic after being attacked by her bully of a partner are fundraising to give her the best care possible when she is discharged after a year in hospital.
The children of Trudi Burgess are now trying to raise money to ensure their mum can be looked after when she is finally discharged from hospital after 10 months.
Trudi, 57, a former secondary school languages teacher who had a record deal when she was younger, was left paralysed from the chest down when Robert Easom, 56, flew into a rage and attacked her. Described as being a 'monster' and like The Incredible Hulk, Easom pinned the mother-of-two face down on his bed and placed his entire body weight on her neck until it snapped.
A jury found Easom guilty after less than half an hour of deliberations, and he is now awaiting his fate as he will be sentenced in February. In the meantime, Trudi’s children Jackson and Gina have explained what happened.
They said: “Mum’s had a full life with plenty to be grateful for - there’s no taking away from that. But the past 10 years have been incredibly difficult. We lost our dad in 2016 to brain cancer, and ever since then it’s felt like we’ve been trying to piece things back together. As you’d expect, Mum eventually met someone new. What we didn’t know was that the relationship had become abusive.
“On 17 February 2025, the abuse escalated. Mum’s neck was broken in an attack inflicted on her by her partner - at the C4, C6 and C7 level - causing a complete spinal cord injury. Mum is now tetraplegic. She has limited movement in her arms, no movement in her hands, and no movement from the chest down. Her breathing is affected too. The last 10 months have been hellish. Mum spent three months in ICU on a ventilator, unable to breathe on her own, speak, or move. She was later transferred to the specialist spinal injuries unit, where she’s now spent seven months receiving round-the-clock care and working towards whatever independence she can regain.
“She’s expected to be in hospital for close to a year in total, with discharge planned in the coming months. Mum’s needs going forward are a little overwhelming - which is why we’re (regrettably) asking for help. When she leaves hospital, she will need a fully accessible home, specialist equipment, a powered wheelchair, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, ongoing physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and 24-hour care for the rest of her life.”
In a recent court case, the jury was shown a harrowing testimony from Ms Burgess, filmed from her hospital bed in intensive care. In it she described hearing her spine crack and her body gradually becoming numb immediately afterwards. Easom admitted causing the injury, which has left Ms Burgess a tetraplegic and needing round-the-clock care, but he denied that he meant to cause her serious harm.
A jury sitting at Preston Crown Court took less than half an hour to find him guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He also admitted two counts of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour during the couple's eight-year relationship.
Det Con Bethanie Kirk, from the Burnley Vulnerable Adults Team, said: “Robert Easom is a manipulative and controlling individual with a warped sense of entitlement and repulsive views towards women. He poses a significant risk due to his violent and abusive behaviour. I welcome these convictions, which expose his abhorrent conduct for all to see.
“I want to commend the victim for her incredible bravery in coming forward and trusting Lancashire Police to protect her and bring Easom to justice. His cowardly and sustained abuse has had a profound and lasting impact on her life and her loved ones. I hope she can now begin rebuilding her life, free from his control.
“Finally, if you or anyone you know is in a relationship and something doesn’t feel right, I would encourage you to contact the police and we will take the appropriate action.”
She had stayed the night at Easom's home, in Chipping, in the Ribble Valley, near Chorley, and was drinking a cup of tea in bed the following morning when he asked her if she was making cottage pie for dinner, which was her usual Monday routine. She replied, telling him she would not be cooking for him and the relationship was over.