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Man found guilty of manslaughter of ferry chef during sex game Man jailed for five years for manslaughter of chef during sex game
(about 3 hours later)
A man has been found guilty of the manslaughter of a P&O Ferries chef during a sex game. A man found guilty of killing by gross negligence a P&O Ferries chef during a sex game has been jailed for five years.
Alun Williams, 47, died of a heart attack after allegedly asking to be hooded and wrapped from head to toe in clingfilm and PVC sheeting. Alun Williams, 47, died following a heart attack after allegedly asking to be hooded and swathed from head to toe in clingfilm and PVC sheeting bound with tape.
Richard Bowler, 35, was convicted of Williams’ manslaughter by gross negligence while his co-defendant, David Connor, 23, was cleared of the same charge. Richard Bowler, 35, was convicted of Williams’ manslaughter by gross negligence, while his co-defendant, David Connor, 23, was cleared of the same charge.
Williams arrived at the flat where Bowler and Connor lived in Dover, Kent, after he exchanged text messages with Bowler. Sentencing Bowler at Canterbury crown court, the judge Adele Williams told him: “You lost sight of the fact that day that Alun Williams was a human being and thought of him as your ‘sex buddy’, as you put it.”
A jury at Canterbury crown court heard that the chef would often meet men online for sex and had an interest in mummification and bondage. The trial was told that Bowler had cerebral palsy and Connor was his informal carer. She said the delay in Bowler getting help for Williams was “reprehensible”, and his failure to monitor or check on him led to his death. The judge said Bowler was responsible for an act of gross negligence by leaving Williams in what was described as a “giant plastic bag”.
Connor told police he left the flat after Bowler told him he had a man coming round for a sex session, the jury heard. The trial heard that on 19 August last year the victim turned up at the flat where Bowler and Connor lived in East Street in Dover, Kent, after he exchanged text messages with Bowler.
He said he returned at 1am on 20 August and Bowler told him Williams had wanted to be wrapped in clingfilm. Jurors were told that Williams would often meet men online for sex and had an interest in mummification and bondage. The trial heard that Bowler has cerebral palsy, and Connor was his informal carer.
Just before 6am, Bowler phoned the emergency services, telling them Williams had stopped breathing after they had indulged in a “kinky sex game”. Connor told the police that he left the flat after Bowler told him he had a man coming round for a sex session, the jury heard. He said he returned at 1am and Bowler told him that Williams had wanted to be wrapped in clingfilm.
Bowler is said to have cut open the clingfilm and plastic sheeting before performing CPR on Williams, who lived with his girlfriend. Just before 6am, Bowler dialled the emergency services, telling them Williams had stopped breathing after they had indulged in a “kinky sex game”. Bowler is said to have cut open the clingfilm and plastic sheeting before performing CPR.
Bowler told the operator: “It’s a bit embarrassing. It’s my friend, he’s called Alun. I have known him for five years. I’m gay, he’s gay.”Bowler told the operator: “It’s a bit embarrassing. It’s my friend, he’s called Alun. I have known him for five years. I’m gay, he’s gay.”
Connor could be heard in the background as Bowler added: “We had a bit of a kinky sex game and he’s stopped breathing.”Connor could be heard in the background as Bowler added: “We had a bit of a kinky sex game and he’s stopped breathing.”
Bowler also told the operator: “I thought he was just sleeping. I am sorry, I should have called before. He takes ketamine and that mongs him out.”Bowler also told the operator: “I thought he was just sleeping. I am sorry, I should have called before. He takes ketamine and that mongs him out.”
He went on: “He’s on my bed, he’s wrapped in a PVC sheet with tape and that. He’s got clingfilm wrapped around his body and I have got a text message on my phone stating that’s what he likes.”He went on: “He’s on my bed, he’s wrapped in a PVC sheet with tape and that. He’s got clingfilm wrapped around his body and I have got a text message on my phone stating that’s what he likes.”
Williams was found wrapped tightly from head to toe in the clingfilm and plastic sheeting, with just enough space left around his nose and mouth so he could breathe. Williams was found wrapped tightly from head to toe in clingfilm and plastic sheeting, with just enough space left around his nose and mouth so he could breathe.
The court heard that sexual acts had taken place between the three men. A postmortem examination found Williams died following body wrapping while under the influence of drugs.The court heard that sexual acts had taken place between the three men. A postmortem examination found Williams died following body wrapping while under the influence of drugs.
Shortly after 6am that morning, Connor walked into the taxi rank where his mother worked and said “Mum, Richard’s killed someone”, the court was told. Shortly after 6am, Connor walked to the taxi rank where his mother worked and said “Mum, Richard’s killed someone”, the court was told.
Prosecutor Ian Hope said police found substances including ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine and amyl nitrate, also known as poppers, in Williams’ rucksack. They also found a gas mask and ties. Sex toys, masking tape, duct tape, black plastic sheeting and clingfilm were found in the flat, the jury heard. Ian Hope, prosecuting, said police found substances including ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine and amyl nitrate, also known as poppers, in Williams’ rucksack. They also found a gas mask and ties in his bag. Sex toys, masking tape, duct tape, black plastic sheeting and clingfilm were also found in the flat, the jury heard.
Bowler and Connor, now both of Sturry Road, Canterbury, had denied manslaughter by gross negligence. Bowler and Connor, now both of Canterbury, denied a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence. Following around four hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Bowler and cleared Connor.
Following around four hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Bowler and cleared Connor. Bowler’s defence was that he took all reasonable care for Williams. In mitigation, Bowler’s defence counsel John O’Higgins said: “This was consensual sexual activity. Everything that Mr Bowler did was consented to and indeed encouraged by Mr Williams. There was ample evidence that Mr Williams was an enthusiastic participant in these actions and they were at the lesser extreme end of the spectrum.”
Bowler’s defence was that he took all reasonable care for Williams. O’Higgins said there was no evidence that Williams had expected Bowler to watch over him as he was wrapped up. And in further mitigation, he highlighted Bowler’s disability and vulnerability. He said he also suffered from a “complex personality function”, and had suicidal thoughts.
It was said on his behalf that he could not have foreseen that wrapping Williams up in clingfilm and PVC would have led to his death.
Connor claimed that he only acted on the instructions of Williams and Bowler and could not have foreseen his death.Connor claimed that he only acted on the instructions of Williams and Bowler and could not have foreseen his death.
Part-way through the trial, Judge Adele Williams ruled that a charge of manslaughter against both men be dropped. DI Richard Vickery, from the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, said: “This is a tragic death of a man well-liked by his colleagues and friends. Bowler had a responsibility to look after the welfare of Mr Williams when he entered their home and spent the evening with him. Due to the nature in which he was restrained, he should never have left him alone for extended periods of time – but he did.
Sentencing of Bowler will take place from 2.15pm. “I’m pleased the courts have recognised this responsibility and found him guilty of manslaughter. I hope this verdict and sentence goes some way to providing those who were close to Mr Williams some closure after what has been a very difficult time.”