Councillor suffocated himself with plastic bag

A Conservative councillor died from suffocation after placing a plastic bag over his head and tying himself to a chair, an inquest has concluded.

Les Winwood, a member of Shropshire Council, was found dead at the home of a drug dealer in Bilston on 17 July 2022, and a post-mortem examination found he had been drinking and taking cocaine.

The 67-year-old from Bridgnorth had been to the address several times before and had likely been seeking sexual pleasure there, the inquest found.

Black Country Coroner Joanne Lees said she was satisfied nobody else had been involved in his death and ruled he had died as a result of misadventure.

An inquest held in Oldbury, West Midlands, heard evidence from the senior investigating officer in the case, Det Insp Jim Colclough from West Midlands Police.

He said data from Mr Winwood's mobile phone showed he had arrived at the property on Cumberland Road at about 14:00 GMT in 16 July.

He had been carrying a bottle of vodka and a carrier bag containing other items.

The police were called the following morning when the owner of the property, Keith Kennedy, 53, returned to find Mr Winwood dead in a camping chair.

A forensic examination of the scene revealed Mr Winwood had used a shoelace to tie one of his arms to the chair and had placed a plastic bag over his own head.

The inquest heard he had been "significantly intoxicated" and had cocaine in his system, but after consulting a knot expert, the police investigation concluded he could have tied himself up, using his mouth and his free hand.

The police investigation also concluded the occupier had been out of the property, and there was no evidence of third party involvement in the death.

However, Mr Kennedy was charged with being concerned with the production of crack cocaine, and on 4 December 2024 he was jailed for two years for the offence.

A pathologist, Dr Brett Lockyer, carried out the post-mortem examination and, in a statement, he told the inquest there was no evidence of significant injury, but reported Mr Winwood showed signs of "significant heart disease".

He also said Mr Winwood had a history of heart issues and had been taking medication for it since 2016.

This would have put him at "increased risk" and that risk would have been increased further by cocaine use and a heightened state of arousal, Dr Lockyer said.

He concluded Mr Winwood had died of suffocation, with intoxication, cocaine use and coronary heart disease also contributing factors.

In reaching her verdict, the coroner accepted those findings and said it was apparent Mr Winwood had gone to the house voluntarily and knew the occupier.

She concluded he had also consumed cocaine and alcohol voluntarily and on one or more occasions placed the bag over his head "in an act of sexual activity or sexual pleasure".

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