Bjorn Andrew Wilson: Mid West farmer jailed for seven years for prolonged reign of domestic terror

The former partner of a Mid West farmer jailed for seven years for torturing her with regular physical and mental abuse over almost six years described going through “hell” thinking she was going to die. But the woman had a powerful message for her abuser and the court: “I refuse to be a victim any longer, I am a survivor.” Some of the abuse fourth-generation Binnu farmer Bjorn Andrew Wilson, 47, subjected his ex-partner to included firing a blank shotgun at her, pressing a live drill into her back and choking her to the point of unconsciousness. Wilson was sentenced in Geraldton District Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty earlier in the week to persistent family violence between 2015 and 2020 and six other charges. He was meant to stand trial last week on 11 charges, which were reduced to seven and saw Wilson plead guilty at the last minute. Wilson was in his late-30s when he met his victim, who was in her mid-30s. Wilson was coming to the end of his three-year sentence after he killed someone behind the wheel in November 2011. The victim lived at his East Binnu farming property, north-east of Geraldton, with her two youngest girls. Both had children from other relationships. Wilson emotionally abused the victim, telling her she was “nothing but a f...ing c...”, that “you wanna shut your mouth, you mouthy c...” and said “keep going, you smart c..., and you’ll get another one” after he held a drill to her back and turned it on. The court was told details of Wilson’s shocking regular abuse, including assaulting the woman, choking her, punching her body, elbowing her in the face, shaking her and ripping her clothes off and throwing a glass tumbler at her face. “Keep going c..., I will f...ing smash you and more of your s... up,” Wilson said after choking her. “I have all day to do this.” On another occasion, Wilson choked his partner until she lost consciousness while her child told him to stop and pulled him off her. During sentencing, a victim impact statement was read to the court in which the woman said hiding domestic violence was hard and she lived in isolation and fear. “When the domestic violence started I was shocked and had nowhere to go,” she told the court. The victim wrote she would pick up the phone to make the call for help but quickly hung up in fear of what would happen if Wilson found out. “I suffered and went through hell at times thinking I was going to die,” her statement read. “I refuse to be a victim any longer, I am a survivor.” Judge Martin Flynn said it was an aggravating factor that the assaults occurred inside a home where the victim couldn’t be rescued or escape. He said Wilson “taunted her to run, which she did” but when she returned, he threw a glass at her. “Feeling safe in one’s home is essential for well being,” he said. Judge Flynn said the victim would have feared Wilson would cause serious injury to her and exploited her emotional independence. “You are not a monster . . . she loved you … and believed you when you said the violence would stop,” he said. The long-term damage to a child witnessing domestic violence and the length of time between offences were other aggravating factors, he said. Judge Flynn said there were prospects of rehabilitation, including Wilson’s attendance, engagement, support from family and friends, prospects of employment and willingness to continue counselling. But he said some of the conduct was inconsistent with “genuine remorse at the highest end”, including failing to accept any wrongdoing during initial interviews. Judge Flynn said he wanted to send a clear message that domestic violence would not be tolerated and sentenced Wilson to seven years in jail. A lifetime restraining order was issued and Wilson will be eligible for parole after serving five years. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)