Bradford man sentenced after partner's tragic death during bondage accident

BRADFORD MAN SENTENCED AFTER PARTNER'S TRAGIC DEATH DURING BONDAGE ACCIDENT

Warren Coulton, aged 52, was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter through gross negligence for a tragic incident involving bondage.

The court heard that Coulton, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, fell asleep while his partner, Claire Wright, was bound and gagged.

During this period, Ms Wright suffocated on a sock, leading to her death.

Coulton’s actions exposed her to an obvious and serious risk of death and asphyxiation, as stated by the prosecuting QC Caroline Rees.

Coulton had a previous conviction as a youth for causing death by reckless driving, and the judge, Mr.

Justice Picken, highlighted that Coulton knew that drinking too much could cause him to fall asleep but chose to ignore this warning, which ultimately led to Ms Wright’s death.

Coulton’s defense argued that he thought the sock could be spat out and maintained that her hands were loosely tied, claiming the incident was a tragic accident.

The jury took only two hours to convict him, and Coulton was sentenced to six years.

Ms Wright’s family described her as a "vivacious and much-loved" woman, and her 15-year-old daughter stated, "My childhood has been ruined forever." The court also heard of Coulton’s past, including a conviction for causing death by reckless driving as a youth, emphasizing the tragic nature of this case which underscores his previous warnings and choices involved in the incident.