PETER RAWLINSON'S HORRIFIC RUNCORN HOUSEHOLD ATTACK AND THREATS
In the quiet town of Runcorn, a disturbing incident unfolded in the early hours of February 23 last year, involving local resident Peter Rawlinson, aged 31, of Arthur Street.The events took place shortly after Rawlinson had moved out of his shared residence on Laburnum Grove and into his mother’s nearby home.
The assault was directed at his former partner, Kerry Rigby, and the aftermath revealed a pattern of violence and intimidation that has left lasting scars.
According to court proceedings, Rawlinson managed to gain entry into Miss Rigby’s house by climbing through a bathroom window.
Once inside, he proceeded to the bedroom where Miss Rigby was present.
Without warning, he launched a physical attack, punching her three or four times.
The assault resulted in visible bruising and a split lip, marking a violent escalation in their troubled relationship.
During the confrontation, Rawlinson was verbally abusive, and Miss Rigby noticed he had fresh cuts on his forearms.
He falsely claimed that these injuries were part of a malicious plot to imprison her.
Prosecutor Jemma Gordon explained that Rawlinson accused Miss Rigby of being responsible for his self-inflicted wounds and even claimed she would face a lengthy prison sentence of 14 to 15 years for it.
In a further display of intimidation, Rawlinson retrieved a knife from downstairs and returned to the bedroom, where he showed Miss Rigby the cuts on his arm, dipping the knife into the wounds.
This act was recorded secretly by Miss Rigby, who managed to hide her phone during the ordeal.
The recording captured Rawlinson admitting to making the cuts himself and threatening to destroy her and her family, including the children, and to have them placed in care.
Realising something was amiss, Rawlinson’s mother, who was nearby, called the police.
Both Rawlinson and Miss Rigby were arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Interestingly, Miss Rigby was de-arrested while at the hospital, but Rawlinson remained in custody.
During police interviews, Rawlinson admitted to climbing through the window but denied any assault had taken place.
On the day of his trial, Rawlinson pleaded guilty to the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).
The court heard a victim impact statement from Miss Rigby, who described the profound effects the incident had on her life.
She revealed that she had to leave Runcorn altogether following the attack, citing difficulties in maintaining contact with friends and family.
She also expressed suffering from anxiety, a loss of confidence, and a persistent feeling of insecurity about returning to Runcorn.
Ms.
Gordon highlighted that Miss Rigby emphasized the relationship had ended, and Rawlinson’s actions were unnecessary and terrifying.
The attack had caused her and her children significant emotional and psychological trauma, with her life being “catastrophically affected” by the events.
It was also noted that Rawlinson had a criminal history, with three previous convictions for four offences, including battery in 2007, Section 18 wounding in 2008, and causing religiously or racially aggravated harassment, alarm, or distress in 2018.
These prior convictions underscored a pattern of violent and aggressive behavior that culminated in this serious incident in Runcorn.
