ROBERT EMERY'S BRUTAL ATTACK IN TROWBRIDGE SPARKS OUTRAGE AND JUSTICE CONCERNS
In June 2018, a deeply disturbing incident unfolded in Trowbridge that has left the local community and the family involved in a state of shock and outrage.A mother, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, publicly expressed her profound disappointment and anger towards the justice system after her five-year-old son was subjected to a violent assault by Robert Emery.
The attack was so severe that the child's head swelled to twice its normal size, prompting immediate concern and horror from those who saw him.
She recounted her experience at Swindon Crown Court, where she had gone expecting justice for her son.
Instead, she was dismayed to learn that the charges against Emery had been significantly downgraded.
Originally, she believed he would face attempted murder charges, given the brutality of the assault.
However, the court proceedings revealed that the charges had been reduced to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and ultimately, Emery pleaded guilty to the assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Alongside this, he also admitted to a driving offence, leading to a sentence of four years in prison.
The incident took place in January, during a night when Emery took his young son along with him to Westbury to purchase drugs.
The court heard that Emery, 29 years old and residing at Aldeburgh Place in Trowbridge, had a history of making hostile remarks about the child in the days leading up to the attack.
On that night, he retrieved a crossbow and, while driving with his son, subjected the child to a violent assault.
Witnesses described how Emery violently banged the boy’s head against the car door and struck him with what is believed to have been a roll of cling film.
Following the assault, Emery did not immediately seek medical help for the injured child.
Instead, he contacted a friend in Bristol and allegedly told him that the boy had 'spilled my gear,' a phrase indicating drug-related frustration.
The friend, upon seeing the child's injuries, was physically sick and convinced Emery to take the boy to the hospital.
Emery attempted to fabricate an excuse, claiming that he had accidentally shut his head in the car door, but the child's injuries told a different story.
Medical professionals described the injuries as some of the worst facial trauma they had seen in a child, with the child's head and neck completely black and blue from the beating.
Fortunately, there were no internal injuries or bleeding on the brain, and the child was kept in hospital for two nights.
Despite the severity of the injuries, he has made a good physical recovery, though he continues to experience nightmares and fears that Emery might harm him again.
His mother expressed her pride in his resilience and her determination to support him through his recovery, emphasizing their love and strength as a family.
The court proceedings revealed that Emery was staying with the child's mother at the time of the attack.
It was also disclosed that Emery had made threatening remarks about hating the young boy in the days prior.
On the night of the assault, Emery took a crossbow and drove with his son to buy drugs, during which he violently attacked the child.
Instead of seeking immediate medical attention, Emery called a friend in Bristol, who was appalled by the injuries and urged him to take the boy to hospital.
Emery's attempt to cover up the incident by claiming he had accidentally shut his head in the car door was unsuccessful.
Following his hospital stay, the child's injuries were described as soft tissue injuries with a misshapen head, but no life-threatening damage.
The mother expressed her frustration with the leniency of the sentence, stating that she felt it did not reflect the trauma her family endured over the past six months.
She also highlighted that a restraining order was in place to prevent Emery from approaching her family again.
Detective Constable Julia Vince commented on the case, condemning Emery's lack of remorse and dishonesty during police interviews.
She emphasized that Emery initially denied deliberately hurting the child but later admitted the truth, which she described as 'awful.' The detective expressed hope that the sentence would serve as a warning to others who commit abuse, reinforcing that justice would be pursued.
Further complicating Emery's situation, he was brought back to court after it was revealed he was on bail for another offence at the time of the attack.
Prosecutor David Maunder detailed how Emery was first arrested in Melksham in November after failing a roadside drug test for cocaine.
He refused to allow blood to be taken for analysis and failed to provide a sample in court.
Despite an interim driving ban, Emery was caught driving a Vauxhall Vectra in Bath early one morning less than two weeks later.
He falsely claimed to police that he was not disqualified from driving, which was untrue.
Emery pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified.
Judge Robert Pawson, noting Emery's extensive driving record, decided to impose a consecutive sentence, adding two months to the original four-year term.
The judge also extended the driving ban by a month to account for the time Emery spent in custody.
Emery was already serving a suspended sentence when he committed these offences, which culminated in the brutal assault near Westbury train station.
The case underscores the ongoing issues of drug abuse, reckless driving, and violent behavior that have plagued Emery's criminal history, and the community's demand for justice and safety for vulnerable children.
