- Simon Burgess won silver at the 2004 Olympics
- He faces an assault charge in a Tasmanian court
Former Tasmanian Olympic rower Simon Burgess met his fate in court after assaulting his ex-wife at their home.
Burgess, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of assault, three counts of failing to comply with a family violence order and one count of damaging property following the assault in Franklin, in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, on 2 December of last year.
However, Magistrate Andrew McKee handed him an 18-month suspended prison sentence in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday.
If you are convicted of any crime that requires a prison sentence in the next 18 months, you will automatically serve 83 days in prison.
“Your behavior was designed to exert some level of control or physical dominance over her as a result of receiving correspondence from her solicitor regarding the possible sale of that family farm,” Magistrate McKee said.
“Behavior like this undermines public confidence in the ability of family violence orders to provide protection to victims of family violence.”
Simon Burgess (left) left his wife fearing for her life during the shocking assault.
The court heard the Olympic rowing silver medalist entered his ex-partner’s home wearing black gloves before straddling her, slapping her on the bed and punching a hole in a wall.
The 57-year-old’s ex-wife feared for her life and used a glass bowl to hit Burgess on the head to try to stop him, the court heard.
He began bleeding profusely but continued to “rant” and slap the woman, about eight times in total.
“(Burgess) took a piece of paper out of his pocket and said, ‘You’re going to choke on this,'” prosecutor Andrew Lockley told the court.
Burgess continued to straddle the woman and slapped her every time she said something he didn’t like.
He also used a “closed fist” to punch a hole in the wall above the bed, having arrived earlier wearing black rubber gloves.
The woman ran out of the house and called a passing motorcyclist, who helped her until the police arrived.
The Australian Olympic silver medalist (second from left) received a suspended jail sentence.
Burgess, who was later arrested at his home, said he thought the family violence order had expired and was looking forward to a “civil conversation.”
In an initial police interview, he said he could not understand why the woman was afraid of him and denied wearing gloves despite CCTV evidence showing otherwise.
His lawyer Philippa Morgan said his seven days in police custody after being arrested were “horrible” for someone who had never been involved in the justice system.
He said because of Burgess’ public profile as one of Australia’s best rowers, he suffered a fall from grace that others may not experience.
“That’s something he’s felt very deeply,” she said.
Burgess had experienced mental health issues, considered taking his own life in 2021 and was using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Morgan said he was the target of vitriol from his ex-wife’s family after they separated and that he feared losing the family farm in the failure.
Burgess, who pleaded guilty to most of the charges in January, suffered memory loss after being hit with the bowl.
He pleaded guilty after reviewing the police interview, Morgan said.
Burgess (second from right) won silver for Australia at the Athens Olympics 20 years ago.
Burgess was remorseful, admitted he was entitled and selfish by going to the woman’s home and was sorry for hurting her, Morgan said.
“At that moment he was angry, sad and felt broken,” he added.
Burgess has taken a “very challenging” Relationships course in Australia, doesn’t drink as much and has worked hard with a psychologist and psychiatrist.
Burgess won silver at the Athens Olympics and competed in 10 world rowing championships between 1990 and 2003.
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