Olympic athlete accused of holding pillow over wife’s face found not guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour
The Olympian was cleared of controlling and coercive behavior towards her GP husband following a hearing at Chester Crown Court.
Curtis Robb, 54, who represented Great Britain in the 800 meters at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, was accused of attacking and threatening 47-year-old Sarah Robb.
Prosecutors alleged Mr Robb, an orthopedic surgeon, subjected his wife to “constant criticism”, name-calling and displayed a “dark side” that included physical violence and cruelty between December 2015 and August 2023. Despite appearing to be a “happy and successful couple”, the court heard about the alleged abuse.
A jury on Tuesday found Mr Robb, of Northwich, Cheshire, not guilty of controlling and coercive behavior and strangulation charges after nearly four hours of deliberations.
He was also paid legal aid expenses.
Mrs Robb reported her husband to the police in October 2023, claiming he held a pillow to her face during an argument on a family holiday six months ago.
When interviewed the next day, Mr Robb denied the allegations and told detectives: “My wife is never happy, so we’re in this scenario.”
The couple met while he was a junior doctor in Sheffield before marrying in 2010 and had three children, Chester Crown Court heard.
The court heard that “issues came to a head” during a holiday in the Lake District at Easter 2023 when Ms Robb said the defendant held a pillow to her face in an “unprovoked attack”.
She told police about episodes of violence during her pregnancy with her third child, including one in which she said her husband hit her; in one of which she “hit” her husband on the arm, leaving a bruise, and in the other, he punched her in the arm and side while driving.
She also claimed that he described her as a “manipulative bitch” and “neurotic”, unable to cope as a mother, and belittled her professional role as a GP.
Mr Robb told the court he was verbally and physically abused by his wife.
He denied trying to smother her while on holiday and when asked if he put a pillow over her face he said: “Wow. He objected to me so I pushed him back.”
The consultant, who worked at Warrington Hospital, was suspended from patient duties after he was charged with these offenses in April 2025.
