Former Tasmanian Olympic rower Simon Burgess gets suspended sentence for assaulting ex-wife in 2023

A double Olympic rowing medalist who broke into his ex-wife’s home wearing rubber gloves and attacked her has been spared a further prison sentence.

WARNING: This story contains details of domestic violence and assault

Simon Burgess, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of assault, three breaches of a domestic violence order and one count of criminal damage to property.

The attack at a house in Franklin in Tasmania’s Huon Valley had a significant impact on the victim, the court heard.

Burgess broke into the woman’s home at around 8pm on December 2 last year, in breach of a domestic violence order.

The woman was in her bedroom at the time and the court heard Burgess straddled her and slapped her upside the head eight times.

Judge Andrew McKee said the woman begged him to stop.

The court was told Burgess took a piece of paper from his pocket and told the woman “you’re going to choke on this”; The woman assumed it was a letter from her lawyer regarding the potential sale of a family farm.

Burgess punched a hole in the wall above his head.

He hit her in the head with a glass bowl and managed to escape the house and get help from a passing motorist.

Burgess was arrested and interrogated; He told police he had not read the domestic violence order and described it as “fake”.

Judge McKee said the comment was indicative of Burgess’ attitude towards the order and that the attack was intended to instill fear in the victim.

“Your conduct was designed to establish a level of control or physical dominance over him as a result of correspondence from his lawyer regarding the potential sale of that family farm,” he said.

“Such behavior undermines public confidence in the ability of domestic violence orders to provide protection for victims of domestic violence.”

Time spent in custody ‘motivated’ Burgess not to reoffend

Burgess was described in court as repentant, ashamed of the impact his behavior had on his family, had attended a men’s behavior program and a psychiatrist, and many in the community had given positive character references.

Burgess represented Australia at three Olympics, winning silver twice and captaining the men’s rowing team in 2004.

He remained in custody for seven days after his arrest.

Judge McKee said the time spent in custody had “motivated Burgess not to re-offend”.

He was convicted and sentenced to 90 days in prison, 83 of which were suspended for 18 months, on the condition that he does not commit another crime that warrants imprisonment.

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