Former Olympic rower Simon Burgess had ex-wife ‘in fear for her life’ during 2023 assault, court heard

A former Olympic rowing medallist from Tasmania entered his ex-wife’s home at night wearing black rubber gloves and attacked her, a court has heard.

WARNING: This story contains descriptions of violence, bullying, alcohol abuse, and discussion of suicide – readers are advised to proceed with caution.

Simon Burgess, 57, previously admitted three counts of breaching a domestic violence order (FVO), one count of criminal damage and one count of assault.

Details of the three-time Olympian’s offences were read out in the Hobart District Court today.

Police prosecutor Andrew Lockley said that in December 2023, Burgess entered the victim’s Huon Valley home while she was in her bedroom.

“He came into the bedroom wearing black rubber gloves,” Officer Lockley said.

“She thought she was in imminent danger.”

Constable Lockley testified that Burgess straddled the woman and struck her eight times in the head.

He added that the woman reached for a nearby glass bowl and hit Burgess in the head.

The court heard that Burgess was “bleeding profusely” over the victim and “continued to beat her and rant”.

Constable Lockley testified that Burgess handed him a piece of paper and said, “You’re going to choke on this.”

The document concerns correspondence between lawyers concerning the division of property.

“(Burgess) continued to straddle her on the bed and hit her every time she said something he didn’t like,” he said.

The court heard that he used a clenched fist to punch a hole in the wall above his bed.

Monitoring contradicts the testimony

Officer Lockley said the victim managed to break free, ran from the house and flagged down a passing driver for help.

Burgess was later found at his home and arrested for assault and breaching a domestic violence order.

He told police he parked further away because there was no space in the woman’s driveway, but Officer Lockley said surveillance footage showed that wasn’t true.

Constable Lockley said Burgess did not give a reason for entering the house without knocking and denied to police he was wearing gloves, but CCTV footage proved otherwise.

Burgess initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but later changed his mind and pleaded guilty.

The court spoke about sports achievements

In her sentencing submission, Burgess’s lawyer, Philippa Morgan, told the court of her son’s idyllic childhood in the Huon Valley and his close relationship with his family.

A two-time world champion and double Olympic silver medallist in lightweight rowing, he began his top-level rowing career in the Huon Valley, where he grew up on a farm.

Burgess represented Australia in rowing at the Olympic Games three times, including in Athens in 2004, captaining the men’s team.

Between 1990 and 2002 he represented Australia at the World Rowing Championships 10 times.

Ms Morgan said his sporting achievements made him the “greatest rower in history” and that he had sacrificed other areas of his life to devote himself to the sport.

She said he was active in the community and was “a person who was willing to give of his time and himself” and that he had many references, including from his current partner.

Ms Morgan said Burgess’s view of marriage was based on the long and happy marriages of his parents and grandparents.

She added that in 2005 he began a relationship with the victim, whom he later married.

Ms Morgan said that when problems began to arise in their marriage, Burgess always believed their relationship would “work” and “in his opinion, divorce would be a disaster”.

She said the breakdown of his marriage had contributed to his mental health deteriorating.

“At that time, his mental state was so bad he was thinking about suicide,” she said.

Ms Morgan said that before the day of the attack, Burgess had received correspondence from a lawyer about the division of property and was concerned he could lose the family farm.

“He felt the only way to improve the situation was to go and talk to the complainant,” she said.

“He regrets hurting her. He was angry, sad and felt broken.”

Ms Morgan said Burgess spent seven days in custody when he was arrested.

Ms Morgan said Burgess had recently completed a Relationships Australia course on respecting women and was at “extremely low” risk of re-offending.

Judge Andrew McKee granted bail for Burgess. He will be sentenced in October.

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