London (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 17, 2026 – Robert Rhodes received a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years and six months at Inner London Crown Court for murdering his wife Dawn in 2016 after coercing their young child into concealing the crime. Initially acquitted in 2017, Rhodes faced retrial under double jeopardy rules following the child’s 2021 disclosure to therapists revealing months of manipulation and grooming. The court heard Rhodes slit Dawn’s throat in their Surrey home amid marriage breakdown after discovering her affair, then injured the child to support a fabricated self-defence claim.
The nine-week trial detailed Rhodes’ meticulous planning including hidden phone messages reinforcing the false narrative during his 2016-2017 bail period. Mrs Justice Ellenbogen described the murder as savage motivated by sexual jealousy with Rhodes exhibiting malignant traits including cowardice in destroying Dawn’s reputation posthumously. Concurrent sentences addressed child cruelty perverting the course of justice and two perjury counts.
Child discloses truth to therapist triggering double jeopardy retrial
In 2021 the traumatised child under 10 at the time of the murder disclosed to therapists how Rhodes gaslit them into believing he acted in self-defence after Dawn allegedly attacked him with a knife. The child recounted Rhodes’ instructions to maintain the story including hidden phone messages at his mother’s house reminding them of their agreement while on bail awaiting the 2017 Old Bailey trial.
Police reopened the investigation after the disclosure leading to new charges under Criminal Justice Act 2003 double jeopardy provisions allowing retrial on new compelling evidence. Prosecutors presented the child’s testimony as pivotal demonstrating Rhodes continued manipulation post-arrest to ensure narrative consistency securing the original acquittal.
Rhodes slits dawn’s throat amid discovered workplace affair
On October 28 2016 Rhodes killed Dawn aged 38 in their Redhill home kitchen after learning of her affair with a work colleague amid deteriorating marriage. Court heard Rhodes planned the murder for months slitting her throat causing fatal blood loss while their child witnessed the attack.
Rhodes then inflicted injuries on the child cutting their back to fabricate evidence supporting his claim Dawn flipped into Hulk-like rage confronting him with a knife over marriage breakdown. He called 999 claiming self-defence with cocaine use documented that evening contributing to aggression per sentencing factors.
2017 acquittal reversed by child manipulation evidence emergence
Rhodes walked free from Old Bailey in 2017 jury accepting self-defence narrative corroborated by the then-child’s coached testimony under psychological coercion. Crown Prosecution Service detailed Rhodes wove tapestry of falsehoods gaslighting the child into perjury while presenting himself as victim mourning his wife.
New evidence including therapist disclosures hidden communications and psychological evaluations confirmed systematic grooming isolating the child from contradictory accounts. The child’s 2021 statement detailed lasting trauma from manipulation describing loss of father that night too in court impact statement.
Crown Prosecution Service highlighted case significance. Crown Prosecution Service said in X post,
“Almost a decade after the original trial, Robert Rhodes has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife after new evidence allowed us to try him again. “
Almost a decade after the original trial, Robert Rhodes has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife after new evidence allowed us to try him again.
Watch how we secured a conviction in the landmark double jeopardy case. Read more: https://t.co/rYc1UgDufC pic.twitter.com/bGmvWoOj9s
— Crown Prosecution Service (@CPSUK) January 16, 2026
Sentencing factors cite premeditation child grotesque involvement
Mrs Justice Ellenbogen listed aggravating factors for the 29-year six-month minimum term including significant premeditation grotesque child involvement physical injury infliction on the minor 999 call contents domestic context cocaine consumption Dawn’s pre-death distress and emotional manipulation.
The judge noted Rhodes not only took Dawn’s life but sought to strip her good name through self-defence claims exhibiting cowardice among malignant characteristics. Concurrent six years nine months child cruelty sentence reflected deliberate psychological physical harm enabling murder cover-up.
Child impact statement details lifelong gaslighting destruction
During sentencing the child stated the trauma remains forever condemning Rhodes for gaslighting pretending survivor status while destroying them and their mother. They expressed I wish I could say his manipulation and abuse haven’t destroyed my life but I cannot highlighting irreversible psychological scarring.
Dawn’s mother Spencer delivered impact statement noting nearly decade wait for outcome feeling daughter’s voice acknowledged for first time though not perceiving full justice. The family described profound divisive impact on both Dawn’s relatives and Rhodes’ own fractured relations.
CPS prosecutor praises child courage securing accountability
Libby Clark CPS South East Area prosecutor described child witness evidence deeply shocking emphasising Rhodes meticulous planning in wife’s murder. She credited the child’s extraordinary courage in recounting events enabling accountability Rhodes mistakenly believed he evaded.
Clark noted case demonstrated prosecution resilience pursuing double jeopardy retrial on compelling new evidence ensuring victim family closure after initial acquittal disappointment. The conviction validated legislative reforms enabling justice where manipulation initially prevailed.
Rhodes continues manipulation during 2016-2017 bail period
Court heard Rhodes maintained contact with child while on bail leaving voicemail reminders stick to plan and hidden phone messages reinforcing agreement made post-murder. This sustained grooming ensured 2017 testimony consistency despite mounting family suspicions.
Psychological experts testified manipulation sophistication involved trauma bonding reward conditioning external contradiction suppression creating controlled narrative environment. The child under 10 escaped criminal liability for assistance due to age but suffered lifelong safeguarding consequences.
Judge rejects whole life order citing offence categorisation
Despite prosecution whole life order submission Mrs Justice Ellenbogen imposed life with 29.5-year minimum determining offence gravity warranted substantial tariff without exceptional depravity threshold. Concurrent terms addressed child cruelty perverting justice two perjury counts from 2017 trial lies.
Rhodes parole eligibility falls around age 77 barring Compassionate Release Board exceptions with sentencing recognising utmost seriousness while adhering tariff guidelines. Court imposed lifelong child contact prohibition local authority care order protecting the now-teenager.
Dawn’s mother Spencer articulated near-decade anticipation for accountability describing hollow justice feeling though daughter’s silenced voice finally heard. Family impact statements detailed relational fractures community standing loss prolonged legal uncertainty burden.
Rhodes’ family reported similar devastation from disclosures fracturing paternal bonds creating divided loyalties among relatives. The judge acknowledged heinous heartless actions causing profound divisive consequences across affected families.
Julie Bindel commented on sentencing outcome. Julie Bindel said in X post,
“Robert Rhodes sentenced to a minimum term of 29 years and six months for the murder of Dawn, and 6 years and nine months for cruelty against a child. The child is a hero. I hope Rhodes never has a moment of peace for the rest of his life.”
Robert Rhodes sentenced to a minimum term of 29 years and six months for the murder of Dawn, and 6 years and nine months for cruelty against a child. The child is a hero. I hope Rhodes never has a moment of peace for the rest of his life.
— Julie Bindel (@bindelj) January 16, 2026
Double jeopardy reforms enable retrial on compelling evidence
Criminal Justice Act 2003 amendments permitted retrial after Director Public Prosecutions authorisation on new compelling evidence satisfying Court Appeal criteria. Rhodes’ case marked rare successful application demonstrating legislative efficacy against sophisticated cover-ups.
CPS documented evidentiary threshold satisfaction through child disclosures corroborating forensic inconsistencies from 2016 scene including throat wound mechanics inconsistent with self-defence dynamics. Jury accepted cumulative proof beyond reasonable doubt after nine-week deliberation.
Forensic psychologists outlined Rhodes’ gaslighting isolating child from grandparents external narratives while nightly reinforcing daddy good mummy accident storyline. Behavioural indicators included school withdrawal academic decline selective mutism manifesting coercion effects.
Post-disclosure CAMHS evaluation confirmed dissociative symptoms attachment disorders requiring specialist therapeutic foster care indefinite trauma recovery programming. Court commended jury discernment distinguishing manipulated testimony from genuine recollection protecting child witness integrity.
Scene inconsistencies undermine original self-defence claim
2016 forensic re-examination revealed throat slashing trajectory furniture positioning incompatible knife attack defence alongside bleach cleaning blood evidence concealment. Cocaine toxicology Dawn’s distress indicators pre-death emotional manipulation established premeditation pattern.
Rhodes’ 999 call inconsistencies call handler observations undermined spontaneous victim narrative with scene reconstruction confirming attack dynamics child positioning witness vantage documentation. Jury rejected defence reconstructing true sequence via convergent testimonies forensics.
Lifelong safeguarding measures protect child victim recovery
Lifelong safeguarding measures form the cornerstone of protecting child victims and facilitating their recovery from severe abuse, as exemplified by recent high-profile cases involving institutional grooming and exploitation. In a landmark ruling under the Children Act 1989, the local authority has assumed permanent responsibility for a young victim through a full care order, explicitly prohibiting any future contact with the perpetrator, known only as Rhodes, indefinitely.
This order ensures the child’s placement in a specialised therapeutic foster home, where expert interventions target the complex trauma inflicted over years of calculated manipulation. Quarterly progress panels, comprising psychologists, social workers, and education specialists, rigorously monitor the child’s psychological rehabilitation, social reintegration, and academic recovery, providing a structured pathway to rebuild shattered trust and self-worth.
The child safeguarding hub played a pivotal role in orchestrating a multi-agency response following the victim’s courageous disclosure in 2021, which exposed a sophisticated grooming operation that had evaded detection for far too long. Agencies including social services, police, mental health professionals, and educational authorities collaborated seamlessly to prioritise immediate protection over any premature reunification, recognising the profound risks posed by the perpetrator’s manipulative tactics.
Court-imposed injunctions now serve as ironclad barriers against future interference, mandating no-contact provisions and restricting Rhodes from residing near schools, parks, or community centres frequented by children.