Churchgoing brute hosed down wife with cold water when she broke his strict rules
A CHURCHGOING husband who forced his wife to carry out tasks according to a strict timetable hosed her down with cold water when she disobeyed him.
Robert Simmons drew up lists of jobs he expected his wife Karen to do, dividing her day into 15-minute time slots.
Using religion as an excuse for his brutality, the father of six forced her into the boot of a car when she fled the house and stood on her head.
During a campaign of abuse lasting from 1988 until March this year, he also made her stand in an outbuilding at their Shetland home, hosing her down with cold water.
When Simmons was finally brought to justice, prosecutors described it as “one of the very worst cases of domestic abuse” they had come across.
The 62-year-old admitted 11 charges when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court.
He was told he faces prison when he is sentenced next month.
The court heard Karen had to carry notebooks around with her, including a “mistake book”, where she had to write down times when she had failed to please Simmons. Police found hundreds of such notebooks at the couple’s home.
They had been married for 30 years and their six children were all home-schooled, depriving Karen of any interaction with other parents at schools.
Simmons set rules and punishments for the household – but they were changed frequently, meaning it was impossible to get them right.
Duncan MacKenzie, prosecutor, said the accused created a “cult-like” atmosphere in the family home and used religion as a justification for his “coercive and controlling” behaviour.
Karen finally worked up the courage to contact Women’s Aid in 2015.
In one of his statements to police after he was detained, Simmons said: “She took a vow of obedience to me.”
He also confessed to doing “hands-on stuff ”, adding: “She knows I’m serious when I do that.”
MacKenzie said it was “nigh on impossible” to comprehend the impact the accused’s behaviour has had on Karen.
He added: “The complainer is a fully qualified and highly intelligent woman effectively robbed of all sense of self-worth.”
The prosecutor successfully argued for an indefinite non-harassment order against Simmons.
Sheriff Philip Mann told the accused: “It’s difficult to contemplate how I would reasonably look at alternatives to a custodial sentence.”
Women’s Aid, speaking on behalf of the victim, said yesterday: “Karen Simmons hopes her story of escape from domestic abuse will encourage other people who are subject to abuse to get help and take control of the situation.”
The complainer is a fully qualified and highly intelligent woman who was robbed of all sense of self-worth
PROSECUTOR