Olympian cleared of coercive behaviour towards wife

A former Olympic athlete has been acquitted of controlling and coercive behaviour towards his wife.

Curtis Robb, 54, who competed for Team GB in the 800m at both the 1992 and 1996 Games, was accused of assaulting and threatening Sarah Robb, 47, and subjecting her to "constant criticism" between December 2015 and August 2023.

His trial at Chester Crown Court heard that while they appeared to be a "happy and successful couple", the orthopaedic surgeon, of Northwich in Cheshire, allegedly had a "dark side" and was said to have been physically violent and cruel towards his GP wife.

After four hours of deliberation, the jury found him not guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour and suffocation.

Curtis Robb was also awarded legal aid costs.

Sarah Robb reported her husband to police in October 2023 and also alleged that he had held a pillow over her face during a row while on a family holiday six months earlier.

When interviewed the next day, Robb refuted the allegations and told detectives: "My wife is never happy, which is why we are in this scenario."

The couple met when they were junior doctors in Sheffield before they got married in 2010 and went on to have three children, the court heard.

Members of the jury were told "matters came to a head" on a holiday in the Lake District in Easter 2023 when Sarah Robb said her husband had held a pillow over her face in an "unprovoked attack".

She told police of violent incidents, including two in which she said she was struck by Robb during her pregnancy with their third child – one in which he "thumped her" on the arm which left bruising and another in which she said he had punched her on the arm and in her side while he was driving.

She also alleged he described her as "a manipulative bitch" and "neurotic", said she could not cope as a mother, and belittled her professional role as a GP.

Robb told the court he had suffered verbal and physical abuse from his wife.

He denied trying to suffocate her while on holiday and, when asked if he had put a pillow over her face, said: "Have I heck. She remonstrated with me, I pushed her back."

The consultant, based at Warrington Hospital, was suspended from patient-facing duties after he was charged with the offences in April 2025.

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