Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Monday 24th March 2025, at 19:00hrs
A man from Leeds has been jailed for two years and six months for subjecting a St Helens woman to years of physical, emotional abuse and intimidation.
Robert Rawson, whose behaviour included preventing the victim talking to her family and pulling her clothes down in public, pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour and perverting the course of justice at Liverpool Crown Court today Monday 24 March.
He was sentenced to 30 months and given a restraining order for 15 years.
Rawson, 62, of Broom Nook, Belle Isle, Leeds controlled the use of the victim’s phone tracking her movements, money and actions, demeaned her in front of her child and posted intimate images of her online.
Coercive and controlling behaviour is defined as an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used by the abuser to harm, punish, or frighten their victim. It often results in victims becoming isolated from their friends and families.
Offenders may control who they see and where they go, how much money they spend or even monitor their online activity and often humiliate or degrade them.
Detective Inspector Steven O’Neill said: “I hope the sentencing of Rawson sends a strong message that coercive and controlling behaviour simply will not be tolerated.
“I would like to emphasise that there is plenty of help available to anyone who may be suffering domestic abuse of any kind and together with partner agencies, we will do all that we can to support you, if you come forward.
“Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and we have specially trained officers who will listen to you and support you with sensitivity and compassion. Likewise, I would ask everyone to look out for your family members, friends or neighbours that may be suffering. Everything you tell us is taken extremely seriously and will be investigated thoroughly.”
If you have any non-urgent information on domestic abuse – if you are a victim or believe someone you know is a victim – you can contact us via direct message Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Twitter, ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or contact @CrimestoppersUK, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you are in immediate danger, always call 999. If you ring 999 and are not in a safe position to speak to us then cough, or tap, the phone and press 55, when prompted. This will alert the operator that you need assistance and we will provide support.
You can also request information under Clare’s Law, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme. This scheme enables the police to release information about any previous history of violence or abuse a person might have.
We recently launched our Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) campaign to put the voices of women and girls at the heart of our work to tackle VAWG. You can find out more about the campaign here: https://orlo.uk/ARZBS
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