A mother-of-two took her own life because she was ‘petrified’ at having to face her abusive partner in court.
Gemma Robinson was found hanged at her home in Dartford, Kent in July last year while her ex-boyfriend Joseph Falconer was trying to be released on bail.
Falconer, who a judge labelled ‘dangerous, jealous and controlling’, held Miss Robinson’s neck as he repeatedly punched her in the face.
The judge said Falconer, ‘ended the gratuitous and violent assault with the indignity of spitting on her,’ and blamed his victim for ‘provoking’ him.
Falconer, who had been subject to a restraining order at the time, denied inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
But a month after Miss Robinson’s death he pleaded guilty to the less serious offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm and one of criminal damage.
He was jailed for three years and four months at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday but due to time spent on remand, is likely to be released in six months’ time.
Falconer, who has six previous convictions for eight offences, also cleared out Miss Robinson’s bank account and smashed up her television.
Gemma Robinson was found hanged at her home in Dartford, Kent in July last year because she was ‘petrified’ at having to face her abusive partner Joseph Falconer in court
Falconer was jailed for three years and four months at Maidstone Crown Court
Falconer had been remanded in custody following the attack on Miss Robinson in November 2019.
The 33-year-old tried to blame the fitness instructor for the assault by claiming he had reacted to a ‘provocative’ remark she made.
Speaking outside court, members of her family claimed Falconer was responsible for Miss Robinson taking her own life.
Her sister Kirsty Robinson, 33, said: ‘[Gemma] was like a shadow of herself and couldn’t be on her own.
‘I looked after her because she had to eat through a straw.
‘She wanted to face him and look strong but she was petrified.
‘She loved him but he beat her to a pulp.’
Passing sentence, Recorder Matthew McDonagh said Falconer ‘ingratiated’ his way back into his former partner’s life, but became consumed by jealousy in the build-up to the attack.
He said there was ‘a significant degree of premeditation’ for which the former Crossrail electrical supervisor had only shown ‘some remorse’.
‘You involved yourself in what can only be described as a gratuitous and violent attack upon Gemma Robinson,’ he told Falconer.
‘You held her neck, affecting her ability to breathe, and punched her repeatedly in the face, ending the assault with the indignity of spitting on her.
‘It is clear to me that your jealous and controlling behaviour consumed you throughout the course of that evening and that behaviour spilled out in the gratuitous attack.
‘This was a vulnerable victim returning to her home where she was at your mercy.
‘You are a dangerous, jealous and controlling man who took full advantage of the physical strength you have.’
The court heard that the couple had been in a relationship since 2015.
In December 2018, Falconer assaulted Miss Robinson which led to a conviction for battery and criminal damage, as well as a restraining order being imposed.
But within three months of that court appearance, he contacted her to apologise while threatening to harm himself.
He turned up at her home and claimed to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
By October 2019 Miss Robinson took pity on him and agreed he could stay on her sofa.
Prosecutor Vivian Walters said: ‘He paid no rent and she bought and provided all his food.
‘His behaviour became increasingly controlling and he started to question her about where she was going and who she was going to see.’
After a night out in November 2019 Falconer, who according to his Facebook page served with the Parachute Regiment for three years, phoned and texted her 70 times, accusing her of being with another man.
Falconer beat the mother-of-two ‘to a pulp’ because he was ‘consumed with jealousy’ and rage
The prosecutor said: ‘He dragged her into the bathroom and pushed her into the shower cubicle.
Gemma (right) with her sister Kirsty Robinson (left). Kirsty said Falconer was, ‘100 per cent to blame’ for Gemma’s death
‘He grabbed her under her jawline and was pushing into her neck making it difficult for her to breathe.
‘She thought she would die…He let go of her neck and punched her repeatedly in the face.
‘She was unsure how many times she was struck but he was saying ‘Yeah’ repeatedly in a belittling manner while punching her. The defendant then spat at her and left.’
She suffered a fractured eye socket and cuts and bruising to her head, face, arms, neck and chest.
When arrested, Falconer’s knuckles and Miss Robinson’s injuries were ‘inconsistent’ with his claim he only punched Miss Robinson twice, causing her to fall and hit her head on the toilet and pass out.
Falconer, from St Leonards-on-Sea in East Sussex, also admitted fraud after he cleared out Miss Robinson’s bank account of £500 and spent the money gambling online.
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.