Man Who Fell Asleep During Bondage Sex, Leaving Partner to Suffocate, Is Jailed
A British man has been sentenced to six years in prison after he left his partner to suffocate when he fell asleep during a bondage sex session.
Warren Coulton, 52, was imprisoned on Wednesday after being found guilty of manslaughter through gross negligence. He left Claire Wright, his 38-year-old partner of five years, to suffocate at a holiday lodge in Flintshire, north Wales, on July 16, 2018.
Mold Crown Court heard that Coulton put a sock into Wright's mouth and tied her up at the Lake Retreat near Cearwys, and then fell asleep after taking drugs and alcohol. While he slept, the mother of two died of asphyxia.
The couple were said in court to have both drunk vodka and brandy, and taken drugs including cocaine and MDMA.
According to Wales Online, when Coulton woke to find his partner dead, he fled the holiday lodge. Her body was discovered by cleaning staff.
The news website added that footage was found on the couple's camcorder that showed Wright, wearing a red catsuit, dancing with her hands tied behind her back.
One of the clips on the camcorder showed Wright telling Coulton that she did not want to have a hood put on her during the sex game, because it scared her.
Coulton's attorney Adam Kane QC said the couple had been engaged in consensual activity, but the judge said Coulton, from Baildon, West Yorkshire, had been grossly negligent.
"Either way, you were negligent and grossly so. It was your choice to drink to excess and take drugs. You did not have to do these things [but they have had] disastrous consequences," the judge said, according to Wales Online.
Detective Constable Lee Harshey-Jones, of North Wales Police, said after the hearing that Coulton had shown a "lack of care" towards his partner.
In a statement seen by Newsweek, he said: "This was a tragic and needless death of a woman described by her friends and family as being a loving and caring mother. It was Coulton's failure and lack of care towards Claire which ultimately led to her untimely death.
"Today the court has recognized this failure and he has been sentenced, having been found guilty of manslaughter with gross negligence. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Claire.
"Incidents of this nature are very rare in north Wales. Today's verdict demonstrates that we will leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice."
Newsweek has contacted North Wales Police for further comment.
