The Case of Trudi Burgess
REAL
Naomi Channell
4.8 • 725 Ratings
🗓️ 18 March 2026
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
When schoolteacher and former singer Trudi Burgess began a relationship with gardener Robert Easom, it seemed like a chance at happiness after the devastating loss of her husband. But behind closed doors, Robert slowly began to manipulate Trudi.
Over the course of eight years, Trudi would endure a relentless pattern of coercive control, intimidation, and escalating violence.
On 17 February 2025, everything reached a horrifying breaking point. When Trudi finally found the courage to say she was leaving, the man she trusted flew into a violent rage. Within minutes, an assault would leave her with a catastrophic injury that would change her life forever.
But Trudi is now sharing her story to help others and inspiring people across the world.
This is REAL.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-care-for-our-mum-trudi
If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here via my Patreon, thank you:
https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast
If you need help or support with domestic abuse please get in touch with the following organisations:
https://havendas.org.uk/ - UK
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ - UK
https://mankind.org.uk/ - Support for male victims
https://safelives.org.uk/ - UK
https://www.victimsupportni.com/help-for-victims/domestic-violence/ - Northern Ireland
https://mapni.co.uk/ - Northern Ireland for men
https://sdvs.ie/ - Ireland
https://www.mensaid.ie/ - Ireland for men
https://www.lifewire.org/ - USA
https://www.thehotline.org/resources/men-can-be-victims-of-abuse-too/ - USA for men
https://www.rizeup.com.au/ - Australia
https://mensline.org.au/family-violence/ - Australia
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Warning, this is a true crime podcast and is not suitable for all audiences. |
| 0:05.8 | Please use discretion. |
| 0:08.2 | This episode contains descriptions of domestic violence. |
| 0:12.1 | Please take extra care whilst listening. |
| 0:15.6 | In 2024, the Brain Injury charity, Brain Kind, conducted a study that revealed a very real and very troubling |
| 0:24.1 | statistic. It said that half of all domestic abuse survivors could be living with a brain injury. |
| 0:31.8 | The report titled Too Many to Count is the first study in the UK to explore the potential links between brain |
| 0:39.5 | injuries and domestic abuse. And just last month, a woman in the UK bravely waived her right |
| 0:46.2 | to anonymity to prove that this is a very real possibility. Today, we're going to look at the case of a |
| 0:53.9 | woman who has had her life |
| 0:55.6 | changed forever by domestic violence and what she's doing now for other survivors. This |
| 1:01.8 | episode is a hard listen, but it is one that could save a life. I'm Naomi Channel, and this |
| 1:09.7 | is real. In November 2016, Trudy Burgess suffered a great loss. Her husband died after being diagnosed with brain cancer. At the time, Trudy was in her mid-forties. She was a mother and a teacher, and now she had to learn to live alongside her grief. She had been with her husband since she was 17 years old. They'd raised their two children together, and she didn't know adult life without him. Over time, Trudy became |
| 2:21.2 | open to the idea of another relationship and to try to find happiness. Trudy's sister had a gardener |
| 2:29.2 | working for her. His name was Robert Isam. He was single and around the same age as Trudy. It wasn't long before the pair were introduced and they struck up a romantic relationship. |
| 2:44.1 | The couple lived in Chipping near Preston in Lancashire, this is in the north of England, and seven months into their relationship, |
| 2:52.2 | they decided to go on a trip to York. But whilst they were there, Robert attacked Trudy |
| 2:58.3 | for the first time. After an argument, he dragged her around the room that they were staying in. |
| 3:05.8 | During this attack, he quoted a line from the film Rambo. He said, |
| 3:10.9 | quote, don't push, or I'll give you war. That incident marked the start of a violent and volatile |
| 3:18.8 | relationship with Robert continuously abusing Trudy. |
| 3:29.1 | When Robert was angry, he would subject her to different forms of abuse. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Naomi Channell, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Naomi Channell and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.