2018, West Sussex

Christina was killed on her 29th birthday. Zahid Naseem, 48, killed her in an attack of "extraordinary ferocity", hitting her 13 times on the back of her head with a kitchen pestle. He was found by police pretending to be unconscious, when they found Christina's body, and then claimed in court that a "red mist" had descended when he feared she would strangle him in a "sex game gone wrong". He claimed Christina had suggested strangulation to him as "fun" that "she had tried with other clients" as an escort.

Murder, life, min term 19 years

2015, Herts

Katie Locke, 23, was a history teacher, from Essex. Katie was strangled on her first date with Carl Langdell, after meeting him on dating site Plenty of Fish. Carl Langdell sexually assaulted her dead body before dumping her in a bush, in the early hours of Christmas Eve. He had admitted the murder to his mother, saying he had strangled Katie in a sex game which went wrong.

Murder, life, min term 26 years

2014, Southampton

Belinda had a sister, who described her as “bubbly” and the “life and soul”.

Her boyfriend, Jamie Nicholson, 30, is arrested after walking into a police station and confessing to the murder of Belinda during what press reported as a “night of passion”.

Police then found Belinda’s body with a computer cord knotted around her neck. In initial court hearings, Nicholson’s defence barrister claimed there had been a sex game involving the ligature.

However, the murder charge was dropped when the Home Office pathologist reported that Belinda had died from a drug overdose, which the prosecution believed had been self inflicted.

The CPS was asked if they wanted to pursue further charges, particularly on the ligature around Belinda’s neck, but having considered it they said it was “not thought appropriate”.

All charges dropped

2012, Kent

Jennie was a much loved middle sister.

She was killed by her friend Marcus Coates, 44. He had tightened a belt around her neck, and he left her body to be found 5 days later.

Coates had claimed she asked him to put the belt around her neck and she pulled it tight during sexual activity.

He had previously been jailed for 5 years for the sexual assault of a woman in front of her child, having slashed the woman with a knife.

Coates was found not guilty of Jennie’s murder, but guilty of manslaughter, and was sentenced under an indeterminate sentence, for public protection, for at least 7 years 6 months.

Manslaughter, 7 years 6 months

2010, Oxfordshire

Lisa is killed by her partner. Sean Freaney, 51, first claimed that he'd strangled her when sleepwalking, then changed his story to a "sex game gone wrong" - he claimed in court that their sex life had been “very very rough”.

Murder, life, min term 14 years

2003, Surrey

Una was a care assistant and was fun and outgoing. She was killed by her partner, Lee Portwine, 38.

Their relationship was violent and she had “frequently been seen with black eyes”. He had previously been jailed for violence. After killing Una, he left her body in the woods in the grounds of a hotel where they had been attending a wedding.

That evening Una was drunk and having difficulty walking. A friend had tried to help her to the ladies toilets - Portwine tried to stop her, entered the toilets, pulled a serrated knife out and was heard shouting at Una. Portwine and Una then left the hotel building.

Una’s body was found the next day. Portwine plead guilty to her murder. He said that he had asphyxiated Una and inserted mud into her vagina and mouth with her consent - “in order to heighten her sexual pleasure”. He then headbutted her when she protested in discomfort. She had died from head injuries and asphyxiation - her throat was blocked by mud.

Portwine’s sentence was reduced on appeal from 16 years to 12 years as the original sentence might have reflected the sexual violence against Una as an aggravating factor. The appeal judges were persuaded that all sexual activity, including asphyxiation and insertion of mud into her, was consensual. They also accepted in mitigation that Portwine had no intention to kill Una.

Murder, 12 years on appeal

2003, Brighton and Hove

Jane was a teacher and classical musician living in Brighton.  After her death, Jane's mum, Liz, and sister Sue successfully campaigned to have some types of extreme pornography banned in the UK.

Jane was killed by her best friend's boyfriend, who had had "sexually arousing" "murderous thoughts" about women since the age of 15, and who had been viewing asphyxial sex and strangulation images online over 8 years. 

'Graham Coutts killed the teacher to "satisfy a bizarre and macabre fantasy" after spending hours viewing images of women being strangled and raped'.  Coutts, 35, was described in court as having an "obsession" with violent pornography, including 'websites specialising in rape, necrophilia and female asphyxiation.'  Coutt's previous partners said that he had strangled them whilst having sex. When asked why she consented to this, one said "I was in love with him. I wanted to make him happy."

Coutts strangled Jane with a pair of tights whilst masturbating over her body.  He hid her body for 5 weeks and regularly visited it.  After first visiting her body he downloaded images of a woman being strangled to death.

Coutts claimed that Jane had died accidentally during consensual strangulation sex. A colleague gave evidence that Jane had years previously said she'd engaged in breath control during sex.

Murder, life, min term 26 years

1999, Portsmouth

Kerry was a barmaid.  She was killed by her new boyfriend, Richard Tait, 30, who was on licence following a sentence for raping and attempting to murder his previous wife by strangling her.  Kerry was said to have known about his previous conviction.

​Kerry “was gagged with parcel tape and had suffered a fractured larynx, a ruptured liver and severe bruising to her face.” She was killed after a New Year’s Eve party.

“Tait told his trial Miss Scott had asked him to asphyxiate her during a sex game and said he struck out at her body when he was unable to revive her.”

The judge described him as “an extraordinarily dangerous young man”

Murder, life

1991, Hastings

Honor was killed by her boyfriend, Stuart Williamson. He claimed, - and it was accepted by the court- that she died in “consensual practice aimed at giving pleasure.” Honor had been asphyxiated. His previous convictions included, for violence: wounding with intent; common assault; assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and assault on the police.

He appealed his sentence of 4 years, and the judges agreed this “unique” case should have a shorter sentence. They did think it “perfectly clear” to anyone indulging in such activity that it was dangerous and should there be a death, would be “very likely to receive a substantial sentence of imprisonment in the future.”

Released after 15 months, Stuart Williamson was violently abusive to another partner, and 1 year later stabbed his mother, 47 year old Audrey Fisher, to death at her home. He was committed to Broadmoor.

Manslaughter, 3 years (on appeal)